^. 


.0^^^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


If  IM  IIM 

«-  I—    ill  2.2 
?    I-    1 2.0 

■  1.8 


14  IIM 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSrSR.N.Y.  M380 

(716)  873-4503 


&'     €Q< 


CiHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


}A 


D 


n 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagde 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pellicul6e 


□    Cover  title  missing/ 
Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

□    Coloured  maps/ 
Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
ere  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


D 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relid  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
a^ong  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  c'-<'';ng  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  tex.   Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  pdut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutdes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  filmdes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl6mentsires; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  excmplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6td  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  oouvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  una 
modification  dans  la  m6thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu6s  ci-dessous. 

□    Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

[""b^ages  damaged/ 
I   kI    Pages  endommdgdes 

□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur^es  et/ou  pel]icul6es 

r~7|    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxsd/ 


D 


Pages  ddcolor^es,  tachetdes  ou  piqu^es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d^tach^es 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quality  indgale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materic 
Compt  jnd  du  materiel  supplementaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  edition  disponible 


r~y  Pages  detached/ 

[""V'Showthrough/ 

I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I    Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I      I    Only  edition  available/ 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  fe!jillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  dt6  film^es  d  nouveau  de  facon  A 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  fiimd  au  teux  de  reduction  indiqud  ci-dessous. 

10X  I4X  18X  22X 


26X 


SOX 


y 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


ails 

du 

idifier 

une 

lage 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Canada 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  h 
plus  grand  .<toin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetd  tie  l'exemplaire  filmd,  et  en 
conformity  avec  ies  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED "),  or  the  symbol  y  {meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Lee  dxemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprim6e  sont  film^s  en  commen9ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  ampreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film6s  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'i!fustration  et  en  terminant  par 
!a  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  salon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  -^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmds  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  ciichd,  ii  est  film6  d  partir 
de  I'angle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


rata 

3 


lelure. 


J 


32X 


12  3 


i''    "'■■ '  -^^ 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

i 


lis 


;ii 


1 


« 


\ 


DoF^'t  you  F{ead  tijis 


I 


BUSTU 
BUSTUS 
BUSTUSALL 


IF  WE  DON'T  SELL  YOU  A  COPY  OF  THE 


f\T)T)a\&oJ_ 


^ 


PRICE 


/T\ael^i9ae. 


■Y 
DWIGHT  H.  KELTON,  LL.D., 

Captain  u.  s.  army. 


C. 


BY  MAIL 


30c. 


JOHN   W.   DAVIS  &  SON, 

Mackinac  Isp^and.  Mich.. 


-GENERAL  AGENTS  FOR  THIS  EARTH  AND  CHICAQU. 


THEI 


New  Mackinac 

(Built  upon  the  site  of  the  "Mackinac  House,"  which 
was  burned  in  January,   1887.) 


Mackinac  Island, 


Mich 


100  GOOD  ROOMS.     TEN  FIRE  ESCAPES. 

HOT  AND  COLD  BATHS.    ARTESIAN  WELL  WATER. 

MILK  AND  BUTTER  FROM  OUR  JERSEY  DAIRY. 


This  house  is  well  arranged  for  the  comfort  of  tourists,  and  is  conveniently 

located  on  the  Lake  front,  and  forty  feet  from  the  only  passenger 

wharf  on  the  Island.     The  furniture,  carpets  etc.,  are  all 

"new."    The  house  is  equipped  with  electric  bells, 

and  modern  conveniences. 

iC^SAVE  HACK  HIRE  TO  AND  FROM  YOUR  HOTEL  ..^ 

FRED.  R.  EMERICK,   PROPRIETOR  AND  MANAGER. 


This  hotel  was  built  for  the  special  comfort  of  summer  boarders. 

On  arrival  each  guest  will  be  asked  bow  he  likes  the  situation  and  if  he  says  the  Hotel 
ought  to  have  been  placed  upon  Fort  Holmes  or  on  Round  Island,  the  location  of  the  Hotel 
will  be  immediately  changed. 

Comer  front  rooms,  up  one  flight,  for  every  guest.  Baths,  gas,  electricity,  hot  and 
cold  water,  laundry,  telegraph,  rotaurant,  fire  alarm,  bar-room,  billiard  table,  eewing 
machine,  piano,  and  all  modern  conveniences  in  every  rooLi.  Meals  every  minute,  and 
consequently  no  second  table. 

Every  guest  will  have  the  best  Feat  in  the  dining  hall. 

Oar  clerk  was  specially  educated  for  the  "New  Mackinac,"  he  wears  the  original 
Koh-i-noor  diamond,  and  is  prepared  to  please  everybody.  He  is  always  ready  to  sing, 
match  worsted,  take  a  hand  at  draw-poker,  play  billiards,  sharpen  your  pencil,  take  you 
out  rowing,  lead  the  german,  amuse  the  children,  make  a  fourth  at  whist,  or  flirt  with  any 
young  lady,  and  will  not  mind  being  cut  dead  when  Pa  comes  down.  He  will  attend  to  the 
telephone  and  answer  all  questions  in  Choctaw,  Chinese,  Chippewa,  Volapuk,  or  any  other 
of  the  Court  languages  of  Europe. 

The  proprietor  will  always  be  happy  to  hear  that  some  other  hotel  is  "the  best  in  the 
country."  Special  attention  given  to  parties  who  give  information  as  to  "how  these 
things  are  done  in  Chicago." 

P.  S.— Our  clerk  spent  six  weeks  in  the  month  of  June  at  the  World's  Fair  in  Chicago, 
and  it  up  to  date  in  describing  what  he  did  not  see. 


n 


c 


,^  H 


sniently 
get 


iL 


the  Hotel 
the  Hotel 

hot  end 
sewing 
liute,  and 


original 

to  Ring, 

jtake  you 

|with  any 

id  to  the 

other 

3st  in  the 
)w  these 

[Chicago, 


^M/. 


price,  25G. 
By  mail,  35G. 


-71^ 


NAMES  OF 
PLACES  NEAR  THE 
GREAT  LAKES." 


.NEXT  TO  THE 


"ANNALS  OF  FORT  MACKINAC" 

This  is  the  Best  Selling  Book  of  this  Century. 

ST.  I6NACE  REPUBLICAN 

p.  D.  BISSELL,  Editor. 

St.  Ignace,  Mackinac  Co.,  Mich. 

PUBL18HED  EVERY  SATURDAY. 


I 


3^D 


$2  oo_A  YEAR— $S  00 


ANNALS 


OF 


Fort  Mackinac 


8 


BY 


DWIGHT  H.   KELTOIM.   LL.D., 

CAPTAIN  U.  S.  ARMY. 

CORRESPONDING   MEMBER   OP   THTw^sLNSIN'^rfrc'"  ''^-"''^^  '^'^'^■ 
CORRESPONDING    MEMBER    OF     THE    ^NNESoIa    .t74  ^'^'^^'^'CAL    SOCIETY. 

MEMBER  o.  r.r^\lZJr''lrl^^^^^^^^^^ 


SMITH    EDITION. 

1  8  ©  3  . 


I 


i\ 


CopyiiRht, 

1883, 

by  DWIGHT 

H. 

Kelton. 

Copyright, 

1^83, 

by  DwiOHT 

H. 

K ELTON. 

Copyright, 

.8«4, 

by  DwioHT 

H. 

Kelton. 

Copyright, 

1886, 

by  DwioHT 

U. 

Kelton. 

Copyright, 

18H7. 

by  DwioHT 

H. 

Kelton. 

Copyright, 

1888, 

by  DvvionT 

H. 

Kelton. 

Copyright, 

1.S89, 

by  DwioHT 

H. 

Kelton. 

Copyright, 

1890, 

by  DwiGHT 

H. 

Kelton. 

Copyright, 

i.Sgi, 

by  Dwic.llT 

H. 

Kelton. 

Copyright, 

1892, 

by  DwiGHT 

H. 

Kelton. 

Entered  according  to' Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  i8y3,  by 

DWIGHT  H.  KELTON, 
in  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


ALL    RIGHTS    RESERVED, 


printed  by 
Detroit  Free  Press  Printing  Co. 


by 


ton. 


o 

z 

<£ 

O 

< 

z 

o 

< 


o 

z 


< 

LJ 


II 


'*:     / 


i 


i..i-X 11 I i u 


H-^ 


Beauteous  lele  I  I  sing  of  thee, 

MackinaCj  my  Mackinac; 
Thy  lake-bound  shores  I  love  to  see, 
Mackinac,  my  Mackinac.  • 

From  Arch  Rock's  height  and  shelving  steep 
To  western  cliffs  and  Lover's  Leap, 
Where  memories  of  the  lost  one  sleep, 
Mackinac,  my  Mackinac. 

Thy  northern  shore  trod  British  foe, 

Mackinac,  my  Mackinac: 
That  day  saw  gallant  Holmes  laid  low, 
Mackinac,  ray  Mackinac. 
Now  Freedom's  flag  above  thee  waves, 
And  guards  the  rest  of  fallen  braves, 
Their  requiem  sung  by  Huron's  waves, 
Mackinac,  my  Mackinac. 


I 


ARCH  Rock,  Mackinac  Island. 


-.  \ 


GREETING. 


Fc-  oounesies  ..eceived  I  a.  ,.n,er  obligation,  to- 


/jTlVr-yy^e^jU^^ 


QUINCY,  MICHIGAN, 
JULY,     1893. 


»!S-B- 


From  Vol.  I  of  Kelton'8  "Indian  Names 
of  Places  Near  the  Croat  Lakes." 

Chicago.  (111.)  Zhikagong^  the  locative  case  of  zhikago, 
**a  skunk,"  also  used  as  a  personal  nau.e. 

Early  French  writers  mention  a  chief  named  Chicagou, 
who  lived  near  the  site  of  the  present  city.  According  to 
tradition,  Chicagou  was  drowned  in  the  river. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  occasion  for  applying  that 
name  to  the  locality,  there  can  be  no  question  about  the  et}  ■ 
mology  of  the  word.  Algic  proper  names  are  very  commonly 
derived  from  the  name  of  animals  by  the  addition  of  o. 
Thus  Zhikago,  is  ehikag  used  as  a  man's  name ;  and  ehikag, 
or  zhigag^  is  the  Mephitis  Americana^  or  "skunk."  The 
English  term  "skunk,"  itself  is  a  corruption  of  the  Abenaki 
form  of  the  word,  which  is,  sikango. 

Some  have  sought  to  lend  dignity  to  the  term,  by  tracing 
in  its  first  syllable,  the  second  syllable  of  kichiy  "prreat." 
This  is  plainly  inconsistent  with  the  Indian  pronunciation  of 
the  name. 

The  origin  of  the  word,  however  undignified,  is  plain : 
zhig^  is  the  Latin  mingere ;  and  kag^  or  gag,  though  now 
restricted  to  the  porcupine  species,  was  originally  any  horrid 
little  beast ;  hence  zhi-kagy  is  equal  to  hestiola/beda  mingens. 

Others  have  had  recourse  to  zhigagawazh  "wild  garlic;" 
but  this  does  not  help  matters,  f  ^r  the  ugly  root  zhig,  is  still 
there,  followed  by  -a^c^wazhj  "a  plant;"  hence  planta  tiri- 
nam  redolens. 


les 


CONTENTS. 


Itago, 

agou, 
mg  to 

g  that 
tie  et} 
imonb' 
a  of  0. 
zhikagt 
f»     The 
henaki 

tracing 

prreat. 

-I 

ation  of 


pla 


in: 


m^ 


now 


horrid 
ling&M- 


garlic 


18 


still 


inta  wrir 


Ancient  Michilimakinac, 

Ancient  Names  of  Rivers  and  Lakes, 

American  Fur  Company, 

American  Officers,     . 

Battle  on  Mackinac  Island,  in  1814, 

British  Officers, 

Capture  of  Fort  Mackinac,  in  1813, 

Collectors  of  Customs, 

Conspiracy  of  Pontiac,  . 

County  Clerks,  "... 

Early  Michigan,    .... 

Fort  Mackinac, 

French  Officers 

Governors  of  Michigan,      .... 
Historical  Events,  chronologically  arranged, 

Indian  Agents, 

Legend  of  Arch  Rock,  . 
Legend  of  the  Giant  Fairies, 
Legend  of  Lover's  Leap, 
Legend  of  Mackinac  Island 
Legend  of  Mishini-Makinak, 
Legend  of  Robertson's  Folly,     . 
Light  Houses, 
Mackinac  Island, 
National  Park, 

Postmasters,     .... 
Priests,  .... 

Probate  Court,  Judges, 
Presidents  of  the  Village, 
Summer  Residences,  .        • 


PAoa 

119 

121 

51 

26 

175 

136 

167 

48 

162 

49 

189 

20 

136 

142 

144 

48 

67 

77 

61 

71 

83 

57 

50 

15 

41 

49 

4r> 

48 

49 

189 


i.t*'.  JHUIl-J  IJ.HW 


" 


MAP  or 


Whitney's 
Foint 


JI^CKIN^C  Ipii?iND, 


MICHIGAN. 


Enland  •ccording  to  Act  "'  Congrtti  In  ISM,  fcf 
I>.  H.  Kbltom. 

8caie,  2  nchestsl  Mil*. 


nrltUb  Landinj 


Ledyard's 
Cliflli 


Bi.  Boat; 


1  Mil*. 


MACKINAC  ISLAND. 


U 


Mackinac  Island 


^,Ledyard'• 
CUfl* 


Latitude  Jf5°  61'  North. 

LoiKjitnde  84°  36'  West  of  Greenwich. 


This  island  is  situated  in  the  Straits  of  Mackinac,  about 
four  miles  east  of  the  narrowest  part;  fifteen  miles  from 
Lake  Huron  and  thirty  from  Lake  Michigan  ;  it  contains 
2,221  acres,  of  which  911  are  in  the  National  Park,  103  are 
In  the  Military  Reservation,  and  1,207  are  private  claims. 


.BoeK 


t 


tobertion*s  Folly) 


The  straturas  of  limestone  which  form  the  base  of 
Mackinaw,  Island,  are  identical  with  the  lower  division  of 
the  Helderberg  series,  while  the  stratums  which  form  the 
upper  portion  of  the  island  contain  a  good  many  fossils 
characteristic  of  the  Upper  Helderberg  system,  though  but 
few  of  them  are  well  preserved. 

The  rocks  on  the  island  give  undeniable  evidences  of  the 
former  prevalence  of  tlie  water,  to  the  Iieight  of  250  feet  or 
more  above  the  present  level  of  the  surrounding  waters, 
though  it  is  not  intended  to  allege  that  the  water  of  the 
lakes,  as  such,  has  ever  stood  at  the  level  of  the  summit  of 
Pyramid  Rock ;  nor  do  we  speak  upon  the  question  whether 


Id 


ANNALS    Oy   FORT   MAOKINAO. 


n 


the  changes  have  been  caused  by  the  subsideuce  of  the  lakes, 
or  the  uplift  of  the  island. 

The  Arched  and  Pyramid  rocks  owe  their  shape  and  posi- 
tion to  the  denuding  action  of  the  waters,  which  during  the 
drift  period  swept  away  the  softer  and  disintegrating 
material,  which  surrounded  these  harder  and  more  com- 
pact brecciated  limestones. 


The  mean  surface  of  the  water  in  the  Straits  of  Mackinac 
is  581  feet,  above  the  mean  tide  at  New  York.  There  is  a 
variation  of  about  five  feet  in  the  height  of  the  water  in 
the  Straits. 

The  greatest  depth  ci  water  on  the  bar  between  Mackinac 
and  Round  islands  is  40  feet ;  on  the  bar  between  Round 
and  Bois  Blanc  islands,  16  feet ;  between  Bois  Blanc  island 
and  the  main-land  of  the  southern  peninsula,  84  feet ; 
between  Mackinac  Island  and  St.  Ignace,  210  feet. 

The  greatest  depth  of  water  in  the  Straits  is  at  a  point 
about  midway  between  St.  Ignace  and  Mackinaw  City, 
where  it  is  252  feet  deep. 


The  following  are  the  principal  fishes  which  are  found 
in  what  may  be  termed,  Mackinac  waters: 

Burbot,  —  Zota  maculosa;  Fresh -Water  Drum,  —  Hap- 
loidonotus  grunniens;  Great  Lake  Catfish,  —  Icialunta 
nigricans;  Lake  Herring, — Coregomis  artedi;  Lake  Stur- 
geon,—  Acipenser  rubicundus;  Lake  Trout,  —  Salvdinus 
namaycush;  Lake  White -Fish, — Coregonus  clupeiformis; 
Moon-Eye, — Hyodon  tergisxts;   Muskellnnge, — Esox  nohil- 


MACKINAO    ISLAND. 


IT 


eSf 

OBl- 

the 
ting 


kinac 
re  is  a 
ter  in 

.ckinac 
Round 
island 
feet ; 

point 
City, 


fonnd 

Bap- 
^talurus 
:e  Stur- 
\lvelinus 
PormiSf 
nobilr 


tor,'  Pike,  —  Esox  Iv.cius j  Rock  Bass,  —  Amhloplites 
rupestria  I  Sun  Fish,  —  Lepomis  gibhosus ,  Wall-Eyed 
Pike, — Stisostedion  vitreumi  White  Bass, — Roccvfi  chry* 
eopsy'   Yellow  Perch,  —  Perca  americana. 

Several  of  the  above  have  different  local  names. 


Of  the  shell-bearing  animals,  specimens  of  three  general 
groups  only  are  found  on  the  Island  ;  viz.,  land  snails ;  fresh- 
water snails ;  and  fresh- water  mussels. 


The  average  temperature  of  the  waters  in  the  Straits 
during  the  months  o.f  June,  July,  August  and  September, 
is  66,  63,  64  and  60  degrees  Fahrenheit,  respectively. 


The  yearly  average  of  the  Maximum  and  the  Minimum 
temperatures  for  the  different  months  is  as  follows: 

January,  39,  — 16 ;  February,  42,  — 19 ;  March,  45,  — 13 ; 
April,  68,  9;  May,  78,  30;  June,  80,  40;  July,  85,  47; 
August,  86,  44;  September,  81,  37;  October,  73,  25;  Nor- 
ember,  62,  14 ;  December,  47,  3 ;  in  degrees,  Fahrenheit. 


The  average  total  precipitation  for  a  year, — indading 
melted  snow, — is  28  inches. 

The  average  rainfall  for  the  months  of  June,  July, 
August  and  September,  is  2.20;  2.79;  2.31  and  2.12  inches, 
respectively. 


5'      I 


18 


ANNALS    OF    FoKT    MACKINAC. 


Tlio  thickness  of  the  ice  brid<;e  wliich  is  formed  across 
the  Straits  in  winter,  varies  witli  the  winter  seasons;  how- 
ever, in  a  very  cold  winter,  ice  is  formed  to  the  thickness 
of  about  four  feet. 


Tlie  following  is  tlie  lieight  in  feet,  of  the  places  speci- 
fied, above  the  mean  surface  of  the  water  in  the  Straits : 

Fort  Mackinac— parade  ground 133 

Port  Mackinac— highest  gun  platform 101 

Fort  Holmes— the  platform 336 

Top  of  the  Pyramid  Rock 285 

Top  of  the  Chimney  Uock 185 

Robertson's  Folly 12  8 

Highest  point  of  the  Arch  Uock 15  0 

Top  of  the  Arch 14  0 

Buttress  facing  the  lake  at  Arch  Hock 110 

Top  of  the  Lover's  Leap 14  5 

Lower  Plateau  of  the  Island 150 

Upper  Plateau  of  the  Island 295 


r088 
lOW- 

ness 


jpeci- 


its: 


133 
101 
336 

285 
135 
1-38 
150 
.    140 

.  no 

.  145 
..  150 
..  295 


UJ 
CO 

D 
O 

z 
o 

co 
< 


20 


ANNALS    OF    Four    MACKINAO. 


Fort  Mackinac. 


There  are  various  ways  of  reaching  tlie  Fort  from  the 
village;  probably  the  best  is  "up  the  steps,"  the  view  at 
the  top  being  well  worth  the  breath  it  costs. 

Now  follow  us,  and  we  will  show  you  through  the  Fort. 

The  old  block-house  on  our  left  was  built  in  1780-82,  by 
the  British  troops;  for  several  years  after  they  were  built 
the  block-houses  were  used  as  barracks  for  the  troops,  each  of 
the  three  stories  having  been  provided  with  an  open  fire- 
place ;  beyond,  to  the  left,  are  two  buildings,  officers'  quar- 
ters, built  in  187G;  passing  along  toward  the  flag-staff,  we 
come  to  another  set  of  officers'  quarters,  built  in  1835,  and 
another  old  block-house,  the  upper  story  of  which  contains  a 
wooden  tank,  into  which  water  is  pumped  from  a  spring  at 
the  foot  of  the  blufiE,  and  distributed  through  pipes  into 
various  buildings.  This  innovation  on  the  water-wagon  was 
made  in  accordance  with  a  plan  devised  by,  and  executed 
under  the  direction  of  Lieut.  Dwight  H.  Kelton,  U.  S.  A.; 
water  was  first  pumped  October  11,  1881. 

While  reinforcing  the  flag-staff  in  1869,  a  bottle  was  taken 
ont  of  the  base,  containing  a  parchment  upon  which  was 
written: 


FOBT    MACKINAC. 


21 


I  the 
tw  at 


jrt. 
52,  by 
built 
acU  of 
n  fire- 
j'  qiiar- 
afE,  we 
55,  and 
UainB  a 

•ring  ** 
,68  into 
on  was 
[xecuted 
[.  S.  A.j 


las  taken 
licb  wa» 


HSAIXinARTBUS  FORT  MaOKUTAO,    ' 
May  t6th,  1836. 

This  flag  staff  erected  on  the  25th  day  of  May,  1885,  by  "A"  aud  "G" 
Compauies,  of  the  2d  Regiment  of  Infantry,  stationed  at  this  post. 
The  following  Officers  of  the  2d  Infantry  were  present: 

Captain  John  Clitz,   .        .        .     "A"  Company,  Com'd'g  Posk 

Captain  E.  Kerby  Barnum,    .        *'Q"  Company. 

Ist- Lieut.  J.  J.  B.  Kingsbury,    .     "G"  Company. 


2d  Lieut.  J.  V.  Penrose, 
2d-;iieut.  J.  V.  Bom  ford,  . 
Asst- Surgeon  Geo.  F.  Turner, 
David  Jones,.        , 


••G"  Company,  A.C.a 
"H"  Company. 

U.S.A. 

Sutler. 


Absent  Officers: 

Ist-Lieut.  J.  8.  Gallagher,  "A"  Company,  Adjutant. 

2d-Lieut.  J.  H.  Leavenworth,  "A"  Company,  on  Special  Duty. 

Colonel  Hugh  Brady,  Bvt  -Brig.  General,  Commanding  Left  Wing, 
Eastern  Department,  Headquarters  at  Detroit. 

Lieut.-Colonel  Alexander  Cummings,  Comman(!ing  2d  Regiment, 
Headquarters  Madison  Barracks,  Sactiet's  Harbor,  New  York. 

President  of  the  United  States,  Andrew  Jackson. 

•  Builder  (of  flag-staff),   John  McCraith,   Private,    "A"  Company, 
2d  Infantry.  , 

Going  down  the  steps  to  the  right,  we  are  brought  face  to 
face  with  one  of  the  historical  landmarks  of  this  country, 
the  building  in  which  this  book  was  written,  the  old  stone 
officers-quarters,  built  in  1781-2,  with  walls  from  two  and  a 
half  to  eight  feet  thick ;  formerly  the  windows  had  iron 
bars  across  them.  In  1812,  the  basement  of  this  building 
and  the  old  block-houses  were  used  as  prisons,  in  which 
Captain  Koberts  detained  the  men  and  larger  boys  of  the 
village,  after  the  capture  of  the  Fort,  until  he  decided  what 


1 

i 

1 

;l 

i      I 

i 

22 


ANNALS   OF    FORT   MACKINAC. 


to  do  with  them.  Those  who  took  the  oath  of  allegiance 
to  Great  Britain  were  released  and  allowed  to  return  to 
their  homes :  the  others  were  sent  to  Detroit.  Mr.  Michael 
DousKian  was  permitted  to  remain  neutral  and  was  not  dis- 
turbed. In  1814,  the  basement  of  this  building  and  the  block- 
houses were  used  as  a  place  of  refuge  for  the  women  and 
children  of  the  village,  while  tiie  vessels  containing  the 
.American  troops  were  anchored  off  the  island. 

The  old  wooden  building  on  our  right,  now  used  as  a 
storehouse,  was  built  for  a  hospital  in  1828,  on  the  site  of 
the  original  hospital  built  by  the  British,  and  it  is  said  to  be 
nightly  haunted  by  the  noisy  and  visible  ghosts  of  some 
Indians  who  were  in  early  days  the  victims  of  the  inquiring 
mind  and  deadly  knife  of  a  morbidly  ambitious  surgeon. 

The  long,  low  wooden  building  at  the  other  end  of  the 
stone-quarters,  formerly  officers'  quarters,  is  now  used  as  a 
storehouse;  facing  it  are  the  barracks,  a  two-story  frame- 
building,  built  in  1859,  occupied  by  two  companies  of 
soldiers,  one  on  each  floor,  with  mess-rooms,  etc.,  complete 
for  each. 

We  come  next  to  the  guard-house,  built  in  1828 ;  beyond 
is  the  south  sally-port,  in  which  the  old  gates  still  remain  in 
place.  Turning  toward  the  north  sally-port,  on  our  right, 
there  was  in  early  days  a  well  more  than  one  hundred  feet 
in  depth,  which  furnished  an  abundance  of  good  water  for 
the  uses  of  the  garrison ;  the  first  building  on  our  right  is 
the  office  and  storehouse  of  the  commissary  of  subsistence, 
built  in  1877,  on  the  site  of  the  old  stone  powder-magazine ; 
the  first  office  in  the  small  building  adjacent  is  that  of  the 
commanding  officer  and  the  adjutant,  and  adjoining  it  is  the 
office  of  the  quartermaster,  which  is  connected  by  a  covered 
passage-way  with  the  storehouse  beyond,  built  on  the  site  of 
the  post-bakery  of  earlier  days;  the  building  beyond  is  a 


FORT   MACKINAC. 


of 
ete 

ond 
n  in 
ght, 
feet 
for 
it  is 
nee, 
ine; 
the 
tlie 
lered 
te  of 
is  a 


bath-house,  built  in  1885,  on  the  site  of  tlie  old  sutler's  store. 

Going  up  the  path  from  the  guard-house  we  will  examine 
the  "reveille  gun,"  and  take  a  glimpse  at  the  magnificent 
view  from  the  gun-platform.  Below,  at  the  foot  of  the 
bluff,  are  the  government  stables,  blacksmith  shop,  and  gran- 
ary; beyond  tiiem  the  company  gardens,  where  the  build- 
ings of  the  Indian  agency  stood  in  earlier  days. 

In  front  of  us  is  Round  Island,  where,  for  a  loug  time, 
there  was  a  large  Indian  village,  the  only  remnant  of  which 
is  an  Indian  burying-ground,  on  the  southeastern  part  of  the 
island.  There  is  also  an  old  burying-ground  on  Bois  Blanc 
Island.  It  is  a  singular  fact  that  all  these  Indian  graves  were 
dug  due  east  and  west. 

Wauchusco,  a  celebrated  spiritualist  of  the  Ottawa  tribe, 
lived  on  Round  Island  for  several  years  previous  to  his  death, 
which  occurred  September  30,  1837. 

To  the  left  of  Round  Island  is  Bois  Blanc  Island. 

The  building  in  our  rear  is  the  hospital,  built  in  1858; 
leaving  it  to  our  right,  we  pass  another  old  block-house,  and 
over  the  old  north  sally-port,  just  outside  of  which,  on  July 
17th,  1812,  the  British  troops  stood  in  line  and  presented 
arms  while  Lieuts.  Porter  Hanks  and  Archibald  Darragh 
marched  the  American  troops  out,  with  arms  reversed,  ta 
receive  their  parole  as  prisoners  of  war. 

Passing  on  we  come  to  the  library,  built  in  1879. 

When  built,  the  fort  was  enclosed  by  a  stockade  ten  feet 
high,  made  of  cedar  pickets,  into  the  tops  of  which  were 
driven  irona  with  three  sharp  prongs  projecting.  Formerly 
all  the  buildings  bclongmg  to  the  fort  were  within  this 
stockade. 

A  better  idea  of  the  block-houses  as  they  appeared  then, 
and  of  the  stockade,  may  be  obtained  from  the  illustrations, 
which  are  reduced  from  old  drawings.  ' 


24 


ANNALS    OF    FORT   MACKINAO. 


The  flags  of  three  great  nations  have  successively  floated 
over  the  post  at  Michilimackinac,  which  has  been  the  theatre 
of  many  a  bloody  tragedy.  Its  possession  has  been  disputed 
by  powerful  nations,  and  its  internal  peace  has  continually 
been  made  the  sport  of  Indian  treachery  and  white  man  a 
duplicity.  To-day,  chanting  te  deums  beneath  the  ample 
folds  of  the  fleur-de-lis,  to-morrow  yielding  to  the  power  of 
the  British  lion,  and  a  few  years  later,  listening  to  the  ex- 
ultant screams  of  tlie  American  eagle,  as  the  stars  and 
stripes  float  over  the  battlements  on  the  "  Isle  of  the  dancing 
Bpirits."  The  historical  reminiscences  rendering  it  classic 
ground,  and  the  many  wild  traditions,  peopling  each  rock 
and  glen  with  spectral  habitants,  combine  to  throw  around 
Mackinac  an  interest  and  attractiveness  unequalled  by  any 
other  place  on  the  Western  Continent. 


View  of  Fort  Mackinac  from  the  Soutiiwcsi 


i  I 


I 


i 


26 


ANNALS    OF   FORT   MACKINAC. 


United  States  Army. 


The  foliowing  is  a  complete  list  of  the  commissioned  offi- 
cers of  the  United  States  Army  who  have  been  stationed 
at  Fort  Mackinac.  The  year  of  their  arrival  at  the  Fort  and 
their  actual  rank  at  that  time  are  given. 


1796. 

Henry  Burbeck, 

Major, 

Artillerists  and  Eng'rs. 

f  f 

Abner  Prior, 

Captain, 

1st  Infantry. 

<i 

Ebenezer  Massav, 

Lieutenant, 

Artillerists  and  Eng'rs. 

(< 

John  Michael, 

** 

Ist  Infantry. 

1800. 

Richard  WhUey, 

1st  Lieutenant. 

Artillerists  and  Eng'rs. 

1802. 

Thomas  Hunt, 

Major, 

Ist 

it 

Josiah  Dunham, 

Captain, 

Artillerists  and  Eng'rs. 

»* 

Francis  Le  Barron, 

Surgeon's  Mate 

1804. 

Jacob  Kingsbury, 

Lieut.-Colonel, 

1st  Infantry. 

1807. 

Jonathan  Eastman, 

1st  Lieutenant, 

Artillerists. 

1808. 

L^wis  Howard,* 

Captain 

<i 

Porter  Hanks, 

1st  Lieutenant, 

<« 

<« 

Archibald  Darragh, 

2d 

■    **    :' 

1810. 

Sylvester  Day, 

Garrison  Surgeon's  Mate. 

1815. 

Anthony  Butler, 

Colonel, 

2d  Rifles. 

<< 

Willoughby  Morgan, 

Captain, 

Riflemen. 

(< 

Talbot  Chambers, 

Major, 

K 

n 

Joseph  Kean, 

Captain, 

« 

4$ 

John  O'Fallon, 

n 

M 

t* 

John  Heddelson, 

1st  Lieutenant 

n 

« 

James  8.  Gray, 

2d 

f  f 

(1 

William  Armstrong, 

2d 

«f 

«« 

William  Hening, 

Surgeon's  Mate. 

(( 

Benjamin  K.  Pierce, 

Captain, 

Artillery. 

<« 

Robert  McClallan,  Jr., 

Ist  Lieutenant, 

<« 

«f 

Lewis  Morgan, 

Ist 

•• 

•  Died  at  Fort 

Mackinac,  January 

18, 1811. 

UNITED    STATES    ARMY. 


27 


1815. 
<« 

i( 

1816. 
i< 

<< 

(« 

«« 

i< 

i« 

«< 

<« 

(« 

<< 

«« 

II 

1817. 
« 

1818. 
<< 

1819. 
(< 

«i 

<i 

<i 

1821. 
(• 

«< 


1822. 

1823. 
<< 

(t 
i« 

M 
M 


George  8.  Wilkins, 

John  S.  Pierce, 

Thomas  J.  Baird, 

John  Miller, 

John  McNeil, 

Charles  Gratiot, 

William  Whistler, 

John  Greene, 

Daniel  Curtis, 

John  Garland, 

Turby  F.  Thomas, 

Henry  Conway,  Jr. , 

James  Dean, 

Andrew  Lewis, 

Asher  Phillips, 

Edward  Purcell, 

Albion  T.  Crow. 

William  S.  Eveleth, 

Edward  Brooks, 

Joseph  P.  Russell, 

Joseph  Gleason,* 

William  Lawrence, 

William  8.  Comstock, 

Peter  T.  January, 

John  Peacock, 

William  Beaumont, 

Thomas  C.  Legate, 

Elijah  Lyon, 

James  A.  Chambers, 

Joshua  Barney, 

James  M.  Spencer, 

Alexander  C.  W.  Fanning,  Captain 

WUliam  Whistler,  " 

Samuel  W.  Hunt, 

Aaron  H.  Wright, 

George  H.  Crosman, 

Stewart  Cowan. 


2d  Lieutenant, 

Artillery. 

8d 

<< 

8d 

II 

Colonel, 

8d  Infantry, 

Major,    ■ 

5th 

i« 

II 

Engineers. 

Captain, 

8d  Infantry. 

<i 

3d 

Ist  Lieutenant, 

3d 

Ist 

3d 

1st 

3d 

Ist 

3d 

2d 

3d 

2d 

3d 

Paymaster, 

3d 

Hospital  Surgeon's  Mate. 
<(  <<  << 

2d  Lieutenant,  Euginccvs. 

Ist         "  3d  Infantry. 

Post  Surgeon. 

1st  Lieutenant,  5th  Infantry. 

Lieut.-Colonel,  2d 

Surgeon's  Mate,  3d        " 

2d  Lieutenant,  3d 

2d  "  3d 

Post  Surgeon. 

Captain,  2d  Artillery. 

1st  Lieutenant,  3il        " 


2d 
2d 
1st 


1st  Lieutenant, 

2d 

2d 

2d         •* 


2d 

2d 

2d 

2d  .     " 

3d  Infantry. 

3d 

3d 

6th      •• 

8d       " 


*  Died  at  Fort  Mackinac,  March  27, 1890. 


|i  M  ■ 


2S 

1825. 
<< 

«f 

<< 

1826. 
<< 

1827. 
It 

«( 

«« 

<• 

1828. 
<< 

«< 


1829. 
<< 

«( 

(« 

« 

« 

<« 

<i 

<• 

1880. 

1881. 
«( 

1882. 
«( 

t4 
f« 
<4 
<« 
<« 

1888. 


ANNALS    OF    FORT    MACKINAC. 


William  Hoffman, 
Richard  S.  Satterlee, 
Carlos  A.  Wait, 
Seth  Johnson, 
David  Brooks, 
Alexander  R.  Thompson, 
James  G.  Allen, 
Edwin  James, 
Ephraim  E.  Barnum, 
Edwin  V.  Sumner, 
Samuel  T.  Heintzelman, 
Charles  F.  Morton, 
Sullivan  Burbank, 
Robert  A.  McCabe, 
William  Alexander, 
Abner  R.  Hetzcl, 
Josiah  H.  Vose, 
James  Englo, 
Amos  Foster, 
Enos  Cutler, 
Moses  E.  Merrill, 
Ephraim  Eirby  Smith, 
Isaac  Lynde, 
Caleb  C.  Sibley, 
William  E.  Cruger, 
Louis  T.  Jamison, 
Henry  Clark. 
John  T.  Collingsworth, 
Robert  McMillan, 
George  M.  Brooks, 
Waddy  V.  Cobbs, 
Joseph  S.  Gallagher, 
George  W.  Patten, 
Thomas  Stockton, 
Alexander  R.  Thompson, 
John  B.  F.  Russell, 
William  Whistler, 
Ephraim  K.  Barnum, 


Captain, 

2d  Infantry. 

Assist.  Surgeon 

2d  Lieutenant, 

2d  Infantry. 

1st 

2d 

<< 

2d 

2d 

II 

Captain, 

2d 

<i 

2d  Lieutenant, 

5th 

(f 

Assist.  Surgeon 

' 

1st  Lieutenant, 

2d  Infantry. 

2d 

2d 

i» 

2d 

2d 

(< 

1st 

2d 

<( 

Captain, 

5th 

II 

(< 

5th 

i< 

1st  Lieutenant, 

5th 

<i 

2d 

2d 

<i 

Major, 

5th 

>i 

2d  Lieutenant, 

5th 

<i 

2d 

5th 

<i 

Lieut.-Colonel, 

3d 

<i 

2d  Lieutenant, 

5th 

•  1 

2d 

5th 

If 

2d 

5th 

K 

2d 

5th 

II        . 

1st        " 

6th 

" 

2d 

5th 

II 

1st 

5th 

t< 

2d 

6th 

l< 

Assist.  Surgeon 

,  Medical  Department, 

Colonel, 

5th] 

[nfantry. 

Captain, 

2d 

1st  Lieutenant, 

2d 

2d 

2d 

Bvt.  2d  Lieut., 

5th 

Major, 

6th 

Captain, 

6th 

Major, 

2d 

Captain, 

2d 

J-< 


UNITED   3VATE8   ARMY. 


2^ 


1833. 
I* 

<« 

i« 

1834. 

1835. 
<• 

<< 

1886. 
t< 

1880. 
<< 

1840. 
i< 

II 

1841. 
«< 

t$ 

« 

•I 
« 

II 

1842. 
<< 

1843. 
11 

<« 

II 

1844. 

1845. 
It 

i« 

M 
«« 


Joseph  K.  Smith, 

James  W.  Penrose, 

Charles  S.  Frailey, 

George  F.  Turuer 

Jesse  H.  Leavenworth/ 

John  Glitz,* 

James  V.  Boroford, 

Julius  J.  B.  Kingsbury,    Ist         " 

Marsena  R.  Patrick,  Bvt.  2d  Lieut. 


(f 


1st  Lieutenant,    2d 
2d         *•  2d 

Assist.  Surgeon,  Medical  Department. 


2d  Lieutenant, 

Captain, 

2d  Lieutenant, 


Erastus  B.  Wolcott, 
James  W.  Anderson, 
Samuel  McEenzio, 
Arnold  E.  Jones, 
Harvey  Brown, 
John  W.  Phelps, 
John  C.  Pemberton, 
Henry  Holt, 
Patrick  H.  Gait, 
George  C.  Thomas, 
George  "W.  Getty, 
Alexander  Johnston, 
William  Chapmau, 
Spencer  Norvell, 
Henry  Whiting, 
John  M.  Jones, 
Rev.  John  O'Brien, 
Martin  Scott, 
Levi  H.  Holden, 
Moses  E.  Merrill. 
William  Root, 
John  C.  Robinson, 
John  Byrne, 
Charles  C.  Eeeney, 
George  C.  Westcott, 
Silas  Casey, 
Joseph  P.  Smith, 
Fred  Steele, 

*  Died  at  Fort  Mackinac.  November  7. 1881 


2d  Infantry. 

2d        " 

2d        •• 

2d        " 

2d 
Assist.  Surgeon,  Medical  Department. 
2d  Lieutenant,     2d  Infantry. 
Captain,  2d  Artillery. 

2d  Lieutenant,     2d       " 
Captain,  4th      " 

1st  Lieutenant,    4th      " 
2d         "  4th      •• 

Assist.  Surgeon,  Med'cal  Department. 
Captain,  4th  Artillery. 

Ist  Lieutenant,    4th        " 

4th 

5th  Infantry. 

5th 

5th 

6th 

5th 


2d 

Captain, 

1st  Lieutenant, 

2d 

2d 

Bvt.  2d  Lieut. 

Chaplain. 

Captain, 


5th 


Assist.  Surgeon,  Medical  Department. 

Captain,  5th  Infantry. 

let  Lieutenant,    5th       " 

2d         "  5th 

Assist.  Surgeon,  Medical  Department. 
<t  i<  II  (I 

2d  Lieutenant,  2d  Infantry. 

Captain,  2d 

Bvt.  2d  Lieut,  5th      " 

««         «•  6th      " 


m 


1847. 
« 


4< 

1848. 
(< 

(I 

1849. 
(< 

1850. 
1851. 

1852. 


ANNALS    OF    FOUT    MACKINAC. 


1854. 
1855. 
1856. 


1857. 

tt 
it 

3858. 
<i 

n 

1859. 
1863. 


1866. 
t  < 

1867. 


Frazey  M.  Winans, 
Michael  P.  Doyle, 
Morgan  L.  Gage, 
Caleb  F.  Davis, 
William  F.  Chittenden, 
William  N.  R.  Bcall, 
Charles  H.  Larnard, 
Hiram  Dryer, 
Joseph  B.  Brown, 
Joseph  L.  Tidball, 
Charles  H.  Laub, 
David  A.  Russell, 
Thomas  Williams, 
George  W.  Rains, 
Jacob  Culbertson, 
Joseph  H.  Bailey, 
Joseph  B.  Brown, 
John  H.  Greland, 
Edward  F.  Bagley, 
William  R.  Terrill, 
Joseph  H.  Wheelock, 
John  Byrne, 
Arnold  Elzey, 
Henry  Benson, 
Guilford  D.  Bailey, 
Henrv  C.  Pratt, 
Henry  A.  Smalley, 
John  F.  Head, 
William  A.  Hammond, 
George  L.  Hartsuff, 
Grover  S.  Wormer, 
Elias  F.  Sutton, 
Louis  Hartm3yer, 
James  Knox, 
Charles  W.  Lc  Boutillier, 
Jerry  N.  Hill, 
Washington  L.  Wood, 
John  Mitchell, 


Captain, 

2d  Lieutenant, 

Captain, 

2d  Lieutenant, 

2d 

Bvt.  2d  Lieut., 

Captain, 

2d  Lieutenant, 


15th  Infantry. 

15th     " 

Ist  Mich.  Vols. 

Ist 

1st 

4tli  Infantry. 

4th 

4th 

Assist.  Surgeon,  Medical  Department. 
Bvt.  2d  Lieut.,    4th  Infantry. 
Assist.  Surgeon,  Medical  Department. 
1st  Lieutenant,    4th  Infantry. 
Captain,  4th  Artillery. 

Ist  Lieutenant,    4th        " 
2d  "  4th 

Captain,  Medical  Department. 

Assist.  Surgeon,       '*  " 

1st  Lieutenant,    4th  Artillery. 
2d         "  4th 

1st         "  4th 

1st         "  4th 

Assist.  Surgeon,  Medical  Department. 
Captain,  2d  Artillery. 

1st  Lieutenant,    2d        " 


2d 

Captain, 

2d  Lieutenant, 

Captain, 


2d        •* 

2d 

2d 

Medical  Department. 


1st  Lieutenant,     2d  Artillery. 
Captain,  Stanton  Guards,  Mich.  Vols. 
1st  Lieutenant    "  /' 

2d         "  "  ** 

Chaplain,  Mich.  Vols. 

Assist.  Surgeon,  1st  Minn.  Inf'y  Vols. 
Captain,  Vet.  Res.  Corps. 

2d  Lieutenant,         •' 
Captain,  43d  Infantry. 


•Us 


UNITED   STATES   AKMT. 


u 


)epartmeiit. 


1867. 

Edwiu  C.  Oaskill, 

Ist  Lieutenant, 

43d  Infantry.                                          ] 

i< 

Julius  Stommell, 

8d 

48d 

1 

1869. 

Leslie  Smith, 

Captain, 

1st 

i« 

1 

<i 

Joha  Leonard, 

1st  Lieutenant, 

1st 

*' 

(1 

Matthew  Markland, 

2d 

1st 

ti 

1870. 

Samuel  S.  Jessop, 

Captain, 

Medical  Department. 

1871. 

Thomas  Sharp, 

1st  Lieutenant. 

Istl; 

ifantry. 

1872. 

William  M.  Notson, 

Captain, 

Medical  Department, 

1873. 

Carlos  Carvallo, 

(« 

<< 

•■ 

1874. 

Charles  J.  Dickey, 

II 

22d  Infantry.                                          ! 

<i 

john  McA.  Webster, 

2d  Lieutenant, 

22d 

i< 

<( 

J.  Victor  De  Hanne, 

Captain, 

Medical  Department, 

1875. 

Alfred  L.  Hough, 

Major, 

23d  Infantry. 

1876. 

Joseph  Bush, 

Captain, 

23d 

i< 

Thomas  H.  Fisher, 

1st  Lieutenant, 

22d 

<( 

Fielding  L.  Davies, 

2d 

23d 

1877. 

Charles  A.  Webb, 

Captain, 

22d 

II 

John  G.  Ballance, 

2d  Lieutenant, 

22d 

(f 

Theodore  Mosher,  Jr., 

2d 

add 

K 

Peter  Moffat, 

Captain, 

Medical  Department,                             j 

1878. 

Oscar  D.  Laulcy, 

1st  Lieutenant, 

23d 

Infantry. 

1879. 

Edwin  E.  Sellers,* 

Captain, 

10th 

<( 

Charles  L.  Davis, 

i< 

10th 

<< 

Dwight  H.  Kelton, 

l£;  Lieutenant, 

10th 

II 

Walter  T.  Duggan, 

1st 

10th 

(( 

Bogardus  Eldridge, 

2d 

10th 

u 

Edward  H.  Plummer, 

2d 

10th 

t< 

George  W.  Adair, 

Captain, 

Medical  Department.   •                         j 

1882. 

WUliam  H.  Corbusier, 

<  1 

(< 

«« 

1883. 

John  Adams  Perry, 

2d  Lieutenant, 

10th 

Infantry, 

1884. 

George  K.  Brady, 

Captain, 

23d 

(( 

Greeuifjaf  A.  Goodale, 

<i 

23d 

i< 

Edward  B.  Pratt, 

1st  Lieutenant, 

23d 

<i 

Calvin  D.  Cowles, 

1st 

23d 

ii 

J.  Eozier  Clagett, 

1st 

23d 

<( 

Stephen  O'Connor, 

2d 

23d 

<« 

Benjamin  C.  Morse, 

2d 

23d 

*  Died  at  Fort  Mackinac,  April  i 

i,1884. 

If 


: 


^1 


: 


!i:5 
I 


32 


ANNALS    OP    POHT    MACKINAO. 


1st 

Ist        " 

Captain, 


George  B.  Davis  oir/ 

1887.    Charles  F  w    !'  ^  J^'eutenant. 

^800.    Jacob  H.  Smith, 

Charles  T.  Witherell 

Edmund  D.  Smith,  '  ig* 
Zebulon  B.  Vance.  Jr.  2d 
Woodbridge  Gear;.      '^ 

Henry  G.  Learnard.  2d 

Jidwm  M.  CoatPa  », 

Joseph  Frazler,  \ai' 

1893.    Edwin  P.  Gardner  ^"'^^^enant. 

IS^a-    John  Howard      "'         ,^t'^"; 

<a  Lieutenant, 


u 


«« 


<« 


<( 


Ist  Lieutenant, 


II 


(I 


<« 


23d  Infantiy. 
28d 

Medical  Department. 

l»th  Infantry. 
19th 


I* 


19tli 

19th 

19th 

19th 

19th 

19th 

19th 

Medical  Department 
19th  Infantry. 


<« 


<< 


(( 


tt 


(< 


<< 


!antry. 
•  < 

J  Department. 
<< 

fantry. 


<< 

<( 
<< 

K 
(< 


1  Department 
fantiy. 


u 

O 

X 

z 
o 

CO 
CO 


UJ 

CO 

D 
O 

I 

z 
o 

CO 
CO 


THE  "GBIFPON." 

The  First  Vessel  on  the  Upper  Lakes. 
Built  l)y  LaSalle,  1679. 


"  -WALK-IN-THE-WATEB.*' 

First  Steamboat  on  the  Upper  Lakes.-  Built  in  1818. 
At  Mackinac  in  1819. 


I 


Ill 


h '  \ 


: 


INDIAN   NAME. 


37 


Indian   Name. 


"Te  say,  'hey  all  have  passed  away. 

That  noble  race  and  brave, 
'That  their  light  canoes  have  vanished 

From  oflf  the  crested  wave; 
That  'mid  the  forests  where  they  roamed 

There  rings  no  hunter's  shout; 
But  their  name  is  on  your  waters. 
Ye  may  not  wash  them  out." 


In  the  Chippewa  or  Ojibwa  language,  thb  name  of 
Mackinac  Island,  is  Mishinimdkina  or  Mishinimagina  j 
in  the  locative  case,  Miahinimakinang,  "at  the  great 
uplifted  bow,"  "at  the  great  hanging  arch."  Mishi-y 
"great,"  "grand;"  mw-,  nima-y  "lifting  up,"  "holding 
enspended  at  the  top  of  something;"  (<?.  ^.,  nimahonigey 
"he  carries  something  on  a  stick;"  nimashkaigariy  "a 
tuft,"  "a  plume,"  "a  bayonet;"  Cree  nima^kwsiny  "he 
is  raised  above  the  ground ; "  nimaskweWy  "  he  carries  hia 
weapons;"  nimahwewy  "he  raises  his  hand  against  him;") 
waginay  Cree  wakinay  (from  wak-y  wag-y  "bent,"  and  a 
substantive  ending;)  "a  Kemi-circle,"  "a  piece  of  wood 
bent  in  the  form  of  a  bow,"  "rib  of  a  canoe,"  "ground 
timber  of  a  vessel.  The  initial  w  is  dropped,  as  is  usual 
in  compounds  {e,  g.y  gimahi,  "he  looks  stealthily;"  waha- 
higauy  *'clay;"  miaaahenjakGr^y  "tree-moss;"  instead  of 
gimwdbiy  wahwahigany  and  rnisaahenjwakon). 


!l 


i! 
i 


88 


ANNAL8   OF   FORT   MACKINAC. 


The  gesture  for  nim-^  is  the  outstretched  arm  and 
hand,  with  the  palm  downward. 

The  greatest  natural  curiosity  on  Mackinac  Island  is 
the  "arch  rock."  It  would,  then,  be  rather  an  excep- 
tional case,  if  the  Indian  name-givers,  with  their  keen 
sense  of  the  beautiful,  and  admiration  for  the  extraordi- 
nary in  nature,  had  not  seized  upon  this  feature  of  the 
island,  to  distinguish  it  from  all  other  localities  known  to 
them.  Still,  the  meaning  of  the  term  is  utterly  unknown 
to  the  Indians  of  the  present  day.  The  whites,  too,  have 
invariably  failed  in  analyzing  and  explaining  the  word ; 
chiefly,  perhaps,  in  consequence  of  the  faulty  division, — 
Miohili  Makinao,  or  Michilli  Mackinaw^  —  in  trod  n*'^.^ 
by  French  and  English  writers, — and  the  greater  hardnesa 
with  which  the  k  is  now  generally  pronounced,  in  that 
name. 


Criticism  of  popular  interpretations. 

1.  Big  Turtle.  This  rendering  would  agree  well 
with  an  Indian  legend,  according  to  which  the  Island  of 
Mackinac,  a  Manitou,  in  the  shape  of  an  immense  turtle, 
rose  from  the  depths  of  the  lake  in  the  sight  of  the 
wondering  natives,  and  was  finally  changed  into  its  pres- 
ent form.  Moreover,  it  is  said  that  Menabosho,  the 
maker  of  a  new  worlds  was  born  on  the  Island  of  Mack- 
inac. If,  then,  its  name  signified  "big  turtle,"  this  Indian 
legend  would  furnish  an  interesting  counterpart  to  the 
well-known  concept  of  Asiatic  cosmogony,  according  to 
which  the  world  vests  on  a  giant  turtle.  That  the  idea 
is  not  quite  foreign  to  the  Indian  mind,  appears  from  th* 
legends  of  the  Zendpe  and  other  tribes. 

Etymologically,  however,  there  is  little  in  favor  of  thia 


INDIAN    NAME. 


30 


arm    and 

Island  is 
an  excep- 
heir  keen 

extraordi- 
re  of  the 
known  to 

unknown 

too,  have 
he  word; 
ivision,  — 
ntiodn<M\^ 

hardness 
I,  in  that 


free  well 
sland  of 
e  turtle, 
of  the 
its  pres- 
ho,  the 
Mack- 
Indian 
to  the 
ing  to 
e  idea 
m  th» 

>f  this 


interpretation.  "Big  turtle"  would  be  mishimU'tpak^  in 
the  locative  case,  mishimikinakong ;  while  the  name  of 
the  island  is  miskinimakina^  in  the  locative  mishinimaki- 
nang.  The  syllable  ni  must  be  accounted  for.  There 
are,  it  is  true,  words  in  which  ni  is  affixed  to  mishi' j 
but  this  changes  its  meaning  from  "large"  to  "many," 
as,  e.  g.^  in  mishinogade^  "it  has  many  feet;"  mishinoni' 
kaso,  "he  has  many  names;"  mishinad^  "there  is  much 
of  it."  This  is  the  chief  difficulty,  though  even  the 
change  from  mikinak  to  makiia  should  not  be  admitted 
without  pressing  necessity. 

2.  Island  of  the  Giant  Fairies.  In  a  certain 
eense,  this  interpretation  may  be  accepted.  The  Ojibwa 
and  Ottawa  speak  of  a  race  of  people  who  are  never 
seen,  though  occasionally  heard  firing  guns  in  the  woods, 
—  a  sort  of  Indian  fairies;  and  these,  —  whether  giants 
or  dwarfs,  no  one  knows,  —  they  call  Mishinimakinagjg 
(the  plural  of  Mishinimakinago).  But  this  name  is  evi- 
dently derived  from  Mishinimakina  (as  Winihigo  from 
Winibi),  and  simply  means  "Mishinimakina  people;"  thus 
lea /ing  the  term   in  question  etymologically  unexplained. 

Historically,  a  tribe  or  clan  named  after  the  island, 
existed  until  some  time  after  the  arrival  of  the  French 
upon  the  Great  Lakes;  and  the  few  who  were  still  living 
at  that  period,  asserted  that  they  counted  thirty  towns, 
and  that  they  had  all  enclosed  themselves  in  a  fort  meas- 
uring one  and  one-half  leagues  in  circumference,  when 
the  Iroquois  came  to  defeat  them,  elated  as  they  were  by 
a  victory  they  had  gained  over  three  thousand  men  of 
the  tribe  (of  Mishinimakina)  who  had  carried .  the  war 
into  the   very  country  of   the   Mohawks.      The  name   of 


m 


!l 


40 


ANNALS    OF   FORT    MACK.NAC. 


this  boastful  clan  would,  then,  after  their  extinction,  seem 
to  have  passed  into  that  of  Indian  forest  fairies. 

An  Ojibwa  translation  of  "Island  of  the  Giant  Fairies" 
would  be  Windigomimsa  or  Mindbeminiss. 

3.  Island  of  the  Dancing  Fairies.  This 
explanation  apparently  rests  on  the  presence  of  the  syl- 
lable nim^  in  the  name  of  the  island.  Miahi-^  "great;" 
nimi,  "  he  dances ; "  aki,  "  land  ; "  hence  mishinimaki, 
or  rather  mishinimiwaki  {mishinimiidiwaki  would  be 
still  better),  "great  dancing  land."  This  appears  plausible 
enough,  at  first  sight,  but  it  will  not  bear  a  closer  exam- 
ination. 

The  first  suspicious  circumstance  is  the  absence  of  any 
tradition  as  to  the  fact  (apparently  implied  in  this  ety- 
mology) that  the  island  once  served  as  a  meeting  place 
for  Indian  dancers.  Next,  there  is  no  instance  of  the 
word  akiy  "land,"  being  used,  instead  of  miniss^  in  com- 
pounding the  name  of  an  island.  Finally,  the  superfluous 
ending  -na^  is  not  accounted  for. 


*'Ye  say,  their  cone -like  cabins, 

Tliat  clustered  o'er  the  vale, 
Have  fled  away  like  withered  leaves 

Before  the  autumn  gale; 
But  their  memory  livetb  on  your  hills 

Their  baptism  on  your  shore, 
Your  everlasting  rivers  speak 

Their  dialect  of  yore." 


ANNAX8   OF    FORT   MACKINAC. 


41 


NATIONAL  PARK-ISLAND  OF  MACKINAC. 

On  March  11th,  1873,  Hon.  T.  W.  Ferry,  Senator  from 
Michigan,  introduced  in  the  Senate  the  following : 

Beaolved,  That  so  much  of  the  Islaud  of  Mackinac,  lying  in  the  Straits 
of  Mackinac,  within  the  County  of  Mackinac,  in  the  State  of  Micliigan, 
as  is  now  held  by  the  United  States  under  military  reservation  or  other- 
wise (excepting  the  Fort  Mackinac  and  so  much  of  the  present  reservation 
thereof  as  bounds  it  to  the  south  of  the  village  of  Mackinac,  and  to  the 
west,  north  and  east  respectively  by  lines  drawn  north  and  south,  east 
and  west,  at  a  distance  from  the  piesent  fort  flag-staff  of  four  hundred 
yards),  hereby  is  reserved  and  withdrawn  from  settlement,  occupancy, 
or  sale  under  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  and  dedicated  and  set  at^art 
as  a  National  public  park,  or  grounds,  for  health,  comfort  and  pleasure, 
for  the  benefit  and  enjoyment  of  the  people;  and  all  persons  who  shall 
locate  or  settle  upon  or  occupy  the  same,  or  any  part  thereof,  except  as 
herein  provided,  shall  be  considered  trespassers,  and  removed  therefrom. 

That  said  public  park  shall  be  under  the  exclusive  control  of  the  Sec" 
retary  of  War,  whose  duty  it  shall  be,  as  soon  as  practicable,  to  make 
and  publish  such  rules  and  regulations  as  he  may  deem  necessary  or 
proper  for  the  care  and  management  of  the  same.  Such  regulations 
shall  provide  for  the  preservation  from  injury  or  spoliation  of  all  timber, 
mineral  deposits,  natural  curiosities,  or  wonders  within  said  park,  and 
their  retention  in  their  natural  condition.  The  Secretary  may,  in  his 
discretion,  grant  leases,  for  building  purposes,  of  small  parcels  of  ground, 
at  such  places  in  said  park  as  shall  require  the  ereciiou  of  buildings  for 
the  accommodation  of  visitors,  for  terms  not  exceeding  ten  years;  all  of 
the  proceeds  of  said  leases,  and  all  other  revenues  derived  from  any 
source  connected  with  said  park,  to  be  expended  under  his  direction,  in 
the  management  of  the  same  and  in  the  construction  of  roads  and  bridle- 
paths therein.  He  shall  provide  against  the  wanton  destruction  of  game 
or  fish  found  within  said  park,  and  against  their  capture  or  destruction 
for  any  purposes  of  use  or  profit.  He  also  shall  cause  all  persons  trea- 
passing  upon  the  same,  after  the  passage  of  this  act,  to  be  removed  there- 
from, and  generally  shall  be  authorized  to  take  all  such  measures  as  shall 


m 


•*■ 


|n< 


42 


ANNALS   OF   FOKT   MAOKINAC. 


be  necessary  or  proper  to  fully  carry  out  the  objects  and  purposes  of  this 
act 

That  any  part  of  the  park  hereby  created  shall  at  all  times  be  available 
for  military  purposes,  either  as  a  parade  or  drill  ground,  in  time  of  peace, 
or  for  complete  occupation  in  time  of  war,  or  whenever  war  is  expected, 
and  may  also  be  used  for  the  erection  of  any  public  buildings  or  works: 
Promded,  That  no  person  shall  ever  claim  or  receive  of  the  United  States 
any  damage  on  account  of  any  future  amendment  or  repeal  of  this  act, 
or  the  taking  of  said  park,  or  any  part  thereof,  for  public  purposes  or  use. 

Senator  Ferry  did  not  forget  his  work  or  neglect  his  oppor- 
tunities, and  on  March  3d,  1876,  after  a  two  years'  struggle, 
he  finally  procured  the  passage  of  the  Act  for  the  Mackinac 
National  Park.  His  regard  for  this  spot — his  birthplace  and 
boyhood  home — led  him  to  advocate  his  park  bill  at  all  times 
ancT  places,  until  his  fellow-members  dubbed  it  "Ferry's 
Park." 


The  following  are  the  approved  Rules  and  Regulations  for 
the  Park  at  Mackinac : 

I.  Mackinac  Park  will  be  under  the  immediate  control  and  manage- 
ment of  the  commanding-officer  of  Fort  Mackinac,  who  is  charged  with 
the  duty  of  preserving  order,  protecting  the  public  property  therein,  and 
enforcing  these  rules. 

II.  All  tenants  renting  under  the  Act  of  Congress  providing  therefor 
must  conform  to,  and  abide  by,  such  rules  and  regulations  as  are  pre- 
scribed for  the  care  of  the  park,  and  will  be  held  responsible  for  a  com- 
pliance with  the  same  on  the  part  of  the  members  of  their  families,  their 
agents  and  employes. 

III.  The  sale  of  wines  and  malt  or  spirituous  liquors  on  the  park, 
without  special  authority  from  the  commanding-officer  of  Fort  Mackinac, 
or  higher  military  authority,  is  prohibited. 

IV.  No  person  shall  put  cattle,  swine,  horses  or  other  animals  on  the 
park,  except  as  follows: 

The  cows  belonging  to  the  residents  of  the  Island  of  Mackinac  may  be 
placed  in  a  herd,  under  the  care  of  a  herder,  and  be  permitted  to  graze  in 


NATIONAL    PARK. 


43 


•uch  parts  of  the  park  as  may  be  designated  by  the  commaudiug-offioer 
of  Fort  Mackinac 

y.    Racing  or  riding  and  driving  at  great  speed  is  prohibited. 

YI.  No  person  sliall  indulge  in  any  threatening,  abusiye,  insulting  or 
indecent  language  in  the  park. 

yiL    No  person  shall  commit  any  obscene  or  indecent  act  in  the  park. 

yill.  No  frays,  quarrels,  or  disorders  of  any  kind  will  be  permitted 
in  the  park. 

IX.  No  person  shall  carry  or  discharge  fire-arms  in  the  park. 

X.  No  person  shall  injure  or  deface  the  trees,  shrubs,  tu<f,  natural 
curiosities,  or  any  of  the  buildings,  fences,  bridges  or  other  structures 
within  the  park. 

XL  No  person  shall  Injure,  defp.cs  or  destroy  any  notices,  rules  or 
regulations  for  the  government  of  the  park,  posted,  or  in  any  other  manj 
aer  permanently  fixed,  by  order  or  permission  of  the  authorities  of  the 
park. 

XIL  No  person  shall  wantonly  destroy  any  game  or  fish  within  the 
park,  nor  capture  nor  destroy  the  same  for  any  purposes  of  use  or  profit. 

XIII.  Any  person  wlio  shall  violate  any  of  these  Rulesi  and  Regula- 
tions shall  be  ejected  from  the  park  by  military  authority,  and  in  case 
the  person  so  offending  shall  have  committed  any  offence  in  violation  of 
any  of  the  statutes  of  the  United  States,  or  of  the  State  of  Michigan, 
the  offender  shall  be  proceeded  against  before  the  United  States  or  State 
courts,  according  to  the  laws  providing  for  the  same. 

XIY.  The  commanding-ofScer  of  Fort  Mackinac  may,  at  any  time, 
add  to  or  modify  these  Rules,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  Secretary  of 
War. 


When  the  ParJi  was  surveyed,  lots  were  set  apart  for  build- 
ing purposes  in  the  following  places:  on  tlie  blufE  near 
"  Robertson's  Folly ; "  on  the  bluff  on  the  northwest  side  of 
the  island,  and  on  the  bluff  extending  from  the  old  Indian 
burying-ground  along  by  "  Pontiac's  Lookout." 

The  price  of  the  leases  for  Park  lots  has  been  fixed  at  ten, 
fifteen  and  twenty-five  dollars  per  year,  according  to  the 
location. 


M 


i 


44 


ANNALS   OF    I'OKT   MACKINAO. 


Stone  Officers'  Quarters,  Built  1782. 


PBIESTB. 


45 


■PRIESTS. 


served  a^SSCSac' ''"  ^'""'"'  ^**°"«  Church  hare 

ro^Z:^:'JtZ:^  '-^'--e  the«„ea„a  ,a. 
fop  Many  of  thorn  made  on  1       •  "'^  *""'  °^  '^^''-  vieita 

second,  about  1741  '  ^"'^  ^'^  '•e-established;  ^ 

oee^e5"';;ro'ir;rdt^ir;  ^-j-  ^"  ^--  ^^ 

aeeond  was  erected  in  1827  1  !     •^.°°  '^'""-  »'«et.    The 
on  land  donated  b,  M^M^^^^^  "^  «^  '^e  present  one, 

The  present  bnildino.  w..  .  ^"^mhoise. 

^  Beneath  the  Sa    irthr'''  '"  ''''• 

Pierce  wife  and  son  of  Cant  R-  °  ^^ndson,  langdon 
P»  the  marble  slaL  oSf  i^^"""  ^^ «-««.  U.  si^ 
■nscriptiona:  *''*"^  ««^««  are  the  following 

Magdalene  IjAmi  ^ 

Wl-^.    Rev.  Father  jZl\        '"  '""*""y  M"W«"e  ) 


'lit 

hi 


if 


t  I 


\  I 


i  ill 


iir 
I 


46 


ANNALS   OF   FORT   MAOKINAO. 


1674  (?)     Rer.  Father  Henry  Nouvel,  8.  J. 
1677  (T)     Rev.  Father  J:  Enjalran,  8.  J.     ' 
1680-81.    Rev.  Father  Louis  Hennepin.  Franciscan.* 
16T?  (?)     Rev.  Father  De  Carheil,  8.  J. 
16??-1700.    Rev.  Father  J.  Marest.  8.  J. 

In  "  Old  Mackinac  "  (Lower  Michigan). 

1708  (?)  Rev.  Father  J.  Marest.  8.  J. 

1741-62.  Rev.  Father  J.  B.  Lamoriulc,  8.  J.» 

1741-65.  Rev.  Father  Du  Jaunay,  S.  J. 

1742-44.  Rev.  Father  C.  G.  Coquarz,  8.  J.* 

1753-61.  Rev.  Father  M.  L.  Lefranc,  8.  J. 

1768-76.  Rev.  Father  Oibault.  Vic-Gen.  of  Illinois.* 

On  the  Island  and  in  Modern  St.  Ionaob. 

1786-87.    Rev.  Father  Payet,  of  Illinois.* 

1704.         Rev.  Father  Ledru,  Dominican,  of  France.* 

1796.         Rev.  Father  Levadoux,  of  Detroit,  Vic. -Gen.  of  the  Bishop 

of  Baltimore.* 
1799-1828.    Rev.  Father  G.  Richard,  Curate  of  St.  Ann,  Detroit,  and 

Vicar-General.* 
1801.         Rev.  Father  J.  Dilhet.* 
1816-18.    Rev.  Father  Joseph  Crevier.  of  Canada.* 
1835-27.    Rev.  Father  Francis  Vincent  Badin  of  St.  Joseph's.* 
1827-80.    Rev.  P.  J.  De  Jean,  of  Little  Traverse  Bay.* 
1839-81.    Rt.  Rev.  Edward  Fen  wick,  Bishop  of  Cincinnati.* 
1830.         Rev.  Father  Mallon.  of  Cincinnati. 
1880-88.    Rev.  Father  Samuel  Mazzuchelli,  Dominican. 
1880-88.    Rev.  Father  Frederic  Res6,  Vic-Gen.  of  Cincinnati,  Bishop 

of  Detroit,  1834.* 
1881-66.    Rev.  Father  Frederic   Baraga,   of  Little   Traverse   Bay. 

Afterwards  (1858-68)  Bishop  of   Sault  Ste.  Maria  aod 

Marquette.* 
1888.         Rev.  Father  J.  Lostrie. 
1838-84.    Rev.  Father  Francis  Hatscher,  Redemptorist. 
1888-43.     Rev.  Father  Santi  Santelli. 


1848-45. 

1845. 

1845-53. 

1846-74. 

1852. 

1864-57. 

1858-61. 

1861-67. 

1868. 

1868-71. 

1869-70. 

1870-71 

1871. 

1871-79. 
1871-73. 

1872-73. 

1878-80. 

1875-78. 

1878-79. 

1879-81. 

1880-«1. 

1880-82. 
1881. 

1881-83. 

1881-83. 

1882-85. 

1883. 

188;i-84. 

1884-87. 

■'^85-86. 


PRIESTS. 


Rov.  Father  P.  j.  BoDduel. 

Rev.  F.,,her  E.  L.  M  So  "  ^""""^  ='-^' 

Rev.  Father  Patriot  B  J,  „ 

Rev.  Father  Henrv  r    ti  •  . 

H".p..horch:rcr '""""■""• 

Rev.  Father  Matthias  Orth 
Rev.  Father  Philin  s  v^.  '    ^ 
•    R«v.  Father  N1  XV  "'     ..""""'  ''™^''"»  B'^' 
R«-  Father ChartvarsT  1  ^"^  ^""'«''* 
Bt-  Rev.  Igoatius  Mrak  Bi.h       ^  ,     ""  ^'*-  ""'e* 
««^-  Father L.  B.  Lebouc    '^'"' °'  """""""* 

Rev.  Father  MoseeMainviW 

Rev.  Father  Edward  Jacker. 

Rev.  Father  William  Dwyer. 

Rev.  Father  John  Braun. 

Rev.  Father  John  C.Kenny. 

Rev^F».herO.A.Riehard 
«t.  Kev.  John  Vprhn   u-  i. 

Rev.  Father  Bol::::,^^^";"^-.^ 

Rev.  F«her  Kiiian  Haas.  O.  ^  c:p  '  '"'■  °"'-* 
*vev.  Father  Isidore  tt.»^«  ^ 

Hev.  Father  J:  Ch^:^^^^^^^^ 

Rev.  Father  P.  o.  Tobin. 
Rev.  Father  William  Dwyer 
Rev.  Father  Francis  Xav^Becker 


47 


1 


■j 


48 


ANNALS   OF   FORT   MACKINAO. 


COLLECTORS  OF  CUSTOMS,  AT  MACKINAO. 


1801-6 

1806-10 

1810 

1810-15 

1815-16 

I81ft-18 

1818-33 

1833-43 


David  Duncan.  1848-49 

Georob  Hoffman.  1849-^)3 

Haruis  II.  Hickman.  1853-55 

Samubl  Abbott.  1855-61 

Wilmam  Oamblb.  1861-67 

John  Rogero,  1867-71 

Adam  D.  Stewart.  1871- 
AuRAUAM  Wendell. 


Samuel  K.  Harino. 
Charles  E.  Avery. 
Alexander  Toll. 
Jacob  A.  T.  Wendelu 
John  W.  McMath. 
S.  Henry  Lasley. 
James  Lasley. 


INDIAN  AGENTS. 


Agentafor  Mackinac  and 

Vicinity: 

1816-24 

Wm.  H.  Puthuff. 

1861-65 

D.  C.  Leach. 

1824-33 

George  Boyd. 

1865-69 

Richard  M.  Smith. 

1833-41 

Henry  R.  Schoolcraft. 

1869 

Wm.  H.  Brockway 

1841-45 

Robert  Stuabt. 

1869-71 

James  W.  Long. 

1845-49 

Wm.  a.  Richmond. 

1871 

Richard  M.  Smith. 

1849-51 

Chas  p.  Babcock. 

1871-76 

George  I.  Betts. 

1851-53 

Rev,  Wm.  SpRAoua 

1876-82 

George  W.  Lbr. 

1853-57 

Henry  C.  Gilbert. 

1882-85 

Edward  P.  Allen. 

1857-61 

Andrew  M.  Fitch. 

1885- 

Mark  W.  Stbveks. 

MACKINAO  COUNTY,  PROBATE  COURT  JUDGES, 


1823-25  William  H.  Puthuff.  1860-65 

1825-29  Jonathan  N  Bailbt.  1865 

1829-33  B.  Hoffman.  •   1866-73 

1833-40  Michael  Dousman.     '  1878-77 

1840-44  Bela  Chapman.  ',  1877-79 

1844-48  William  Johnson.  1879-81 

1848-53  Bela  Chapman.  1881-85 

1863-60  Jonathan  P.  Kino.  1885- 


Bela  Chapman. 
Alexander  Toll. 
Bela  Chapman. 
George  C.  Ketchum. 
George  T.  Wendell. 
Bbkoni  Lachancb. 
Thomas  Chambers. 
Peter  N.  Packard. 


VILLAOK    ()FFICKR8. 


4» 


IN  AC. 

ARINO. 
\VKBY. 
TOLU 

Wendel.1*. 
;MaTO. 

ASLKY. 
BY. 


m. 

L.  Smith. 

UOCKWAY. 

I  Long. 
Smith. 
Bbttb, 

.  Lb«. 

Allbn. 
IStbvens. 


JUDGES- 

Lpman. 
Qu  Toll. 

^PMAN. 

Kbtchum. 
\  Wkndbll» 

^ACHANCB. 

:;ham«kR8. 
Packabd. 


MACKINAC  VILLAGE,  PRESIDENTS. 

Wardent  or  Presidents  of  the  Boroufjh  or  Village  of  M'lckinae,  since  it» 

incorporation  in  1817: 


1817-21 

1832 

1838 

1834-25 

1836 

1887-30 

1831 

l83'2-43 

1844 

1845 

1845 

1846 

1848 


Wm.  II.  POTHDFF.  1849 

Gkoiiok  Boyd.  1850-55 

Wm.  H.  Pothupp.  1856 

Michael  Doubm[an.  1801 

Jonathan  N.  Bailbt.  1873 

Samuel  Aubott.  1873 

Edward  Biddlb.  1875 

Samuel  Abbott.  1875-70 

Edward  Biddlb.  1877-81 

Samuel  Abbott.  188'3 

Abraham  Wendell.  1883-84 

Bela  Chapman.  1885 

Augustus  Todd.  1886- 


Bkla  Chapman. 
Augustus  Todd. 
Jonathan  I*.  Kino. 
John  H.  Couchois. 
John  Hbckeii. 
W.M.  Madison. 
Dr.  .John  R.  B.\ilet. 
Edwin  C.  Gaskill. 
Wm.  p.  Preston. 
lIouACB  A.  N.  Todd. 
Wm.  p.  Preston. 
William  Sullivan. 
Wm.  B.  Pueston. 


POSTMASTERS. 


Postmasters  at  Mackinac  since  tJie  establishment  of  the  Post  Office  in  IS  19: 
The  Office  was  known  as  Michilimackinae,  until  18S6. 


1819-23  Adam  D.  Stewart.  1861-60 

1832-35  John  W.  Mason.  1800-67 

1835-29  Jonathan  N.  Bailey.*     1807-77 

1839-49  Jonathan  P.  Kino.  1877-80 

1849-53  James  H.  Cook.  1880-85 

1853-59  Jonathan  P.  Kino.  1885- 

1859-61  John  Biddlb. 


James  Lasley. 
John  Bkcker. 
Jamks  Lasley. 
Geohge  C.  Kktchum. 
James  Lasley. 
James  Gallagher. 


•First  Postmaster  at  Ohioago.       Appointe  1  March  31st,  18.31. 

The  first  post-offlce  oa  this  side  of  the  Atlantic  was  established  by 
Gov,  Lovelace,  at  New  York,  in  1673. 

MACKINAC  COUNTY,  CLERKS. 


Clerks  of  the  County  from  its  organization  in  1818: 


1818-21 
1822-24 
1825-46 
1847-52 
1853-54 


Thomas  Lyon.  1855-58 

F.  Hinchman.  1859-63 

Jonathan  P.  Kino.  1864 

P.  C.  Kevan.  1865-86 

Wm.  M.  Johnston.  1886- 


JoHN  Becker. 
Wm.  M.  Johnstow. 
Charles  O'Mallbt. 
John  Biddlb. 
Michap:l  HuBAif. 


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▲MEKICAN    FUR   COMPANY. 


51 


8 


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THE  AMERICAN  FUB  COMPANY. 

To  notice  slightly  the  origin  of  the  American  Fur  Com 
pany,  we  will  say  that  John  Jacob  Astor,  a  German  by  birth, 
who  arrived  in  New  York  in  the  year  1784,  commenced 
work  for  a  bakerj^  owned  by  a  German  acquaintance.  He 
was  afterwards  assisted  to  open  a  toy  shop,  and  tins  was  fol- 
lowed by  trafficking  for  small  parcels  of  fnrs  in  the  country 
towns,  and  which  led  to  his  future  operations  in  that  lino. 

Mr.  Aster's  great  and  continued  success  in  that  briinch  of 
trade  induced  him,  in  1809,  to  obtain  from  the  New  York 
Legislature  a  charter  incorporating  "The  American  Fnr 
Company,"  with  a  capital  of  a  million  dollars.  It  is  under- 
stood that  Mr.  Astor  comprised  the  company,  though  other 
names  were  used  in  its  organization.  In  1811,  Mr.  Astoi*, 
in  connection  with  certain  partners  of  the  old  Northwest 
Fur  Company  (whose  beginninnj  was  in  1783,  and  perma- 
nently organized  in  1787),  be  light  out  the  association  of 
British  merchants  known  as  the  Mackinac  Company,  then  a 
strong  competitor  in  the  fur  trar'^i.  This  Mackinac  Com- 
pany, with  the  American  Fur  Company,  was  merged  into  a 
new  associatiju  called  the  Southwest  Fur  Company.  But  in 
1815,  Mr.  Astor  bought  out  the  Southwest  Company,  and  the 
American  Fur  Company  came  again  to  the  front.  In  the 
winter  of  1815-16,  Congress,  through  the  influence  of  Mr. 
Astor,  it  is  understood,  passed  an  ,'^ct  excluding  foreigners 
from  participating  in  the  Indian  trade.  In  1817-18,  the 
American  Fur  Company  brought  a  large  number  of  clerks 
from  Montreal  and  the  United  States  to  Mackinac,  some  of 
whom  made  good  Indian  traders,  while  many  others  failed 
upon  trial  and  were  discharged.  Among  those  who  proved 
their  capability  was  Gurdon  S.  Hubbard,  Esq.,  then  a  youth 


Ill*  ii  I  timttttiika 


52 


ANNALS    OP    FORT    MACKINAC. 


of  sixteen,  later,  >iie  of  the  early  settlers  of  Chicago.  He 
was  born  in  Windsor,  Vt,  in  1802,  his  parents  were  Elizur 
and  Abigail  (Sage)  Hubbard.  His  paternal  "emigrant" 
ancestor  was  George  Hubbard,  who  was  at  Wethersfield,  Ct., 
in  1636.  Mr.  Hubbard  was  also  a  lineal  descendant  of  the 
clergyman-governor  Gurdon  Saltonstall  (named  for  Bramp- 
ton Gurdon,  the  patriot  M.  P.,  whose  daughter  was  the  grand- 
mother of  the  governor),  who  was  the  great-grandson  of  Sir 
Richard  Saltonstall,  a  firm  and  efficient  friend  of  early  Now 
England. 

Mr.  Hubbard  left  Montreal,  where  his  parents  then  lived, 
May  13,  18;. 8,  reaching  Mackinac  July  4th,  and  arrived  at 
Chicago  on  the  first  day  of  November  of  that  year.  In  1828, 
he  purchased  of  the  Fur  Company  their  entire  interest  in 
the  trade  of  Illinois.  Mr.  Hubbard  died  at  his  home  in 
Chicago,  September  14,  1886. 

Having  entire  charge  of  the  management  of  the  company  in  the  West, 
wore  Ramsey  Crooks  and  Robert  Stuart.  To  William  Matthews  was 
intrusted  the  engaging  of  voyageurs  and  clerks  in  Canada,  with  his  head- 
quarters in  Montreal.  The  voyageurs  he  took  from  the  habitants  (farmers) ; 
young,  active,  athletic  men  were  sought  for,  indeed,  none  but  such  were 
engaged,  and  they  passed  under  inspection  of  a  surgeon.  Mr.  M.  also 
purchased  at  Montreal  such  goods  as  were  suited  for  the  trade,  to  load  his 
boats.  These  boats  were  the  Canadian  batteaux,  principally  used  in  those 
days  in  transferring  goods  to  upper  St.  Lawrence  River  and  its  tributaries, 
manned  by  four  oarsmen  and  a  steersman,  capacity  about  six  tons.  The 
voyageurs  and  clerks  were  under  indentures  for  a  term  of  five  years. 
Wages  of  voyageurs,  $100.  clerks  from  $120  to  $500  per  annum.  These 
were  all  novices  in  the  business;  the  plan  of  the  company  was  to  arrange 
and  secure  the  sevvi'^es  of  old  traders  and  their  voyageurs,  who,  at  the 
(new)  organization  of  the  company  were  in  the  Indian  country,  depending 
on  their  influence  and  knowledge  of  the  trade  with  the  Indians;  and  as 
fast  as  possible  secure  the  vast  trade  in  the  West  and  Northwest,  within 
the  district  of  the  United  States,  interspersing  the  novices  brought  from 
Canada  so  as  to  consolidate,  extend  and  monopolize,  as  far  as  possible, 
over  the  country,  the  Indian  trade.    The  first  two  years  they  had  8u<v 


icago.  He 
vere  Elizur 
emigrant " 
rsfield,  Ct., 
lant  of  the 
for  Bramp- 
\  the  gran  el- 
isor! of  Sir 
early  Now 

then  lived, 
arrived  at 
In  1828, 
interest  in 
9  home  in 

in  the  West, 
atthews  was 
ith  his  head- 
its  (farmers) ; 
it  such  were 
Mr.  M.  also 
!,  to  load  his 
ised  in  those 
i  tributaries, 
:  tons.    The 
!  five  years, 
um.    These 
s  to  arrange 
who,  at  the 
,  depending 
ans;  and  as 
vest,  within 
ought  from 
OS  possible, 
!y  had  suo> 


americai^  fur  company. 


M,chigan  and  Superior,  and  their  tHb^L       /""""'  '''™"'  ^"'- 
«nes  ,t  the  Uaited  States  extended  l^T^,    ^  "'  """"  ■«  "«'  "ound- 
."terest  was  to  regain  indepondert-  .IllT'7''"'  """'«'"  ""«  '^r 
tte-r  best  traders,  and  located  uZ  in  ZZ    '""''■  '"»  ^""Po-r  selected 
manage  b,  underseUing  .„  bring  Z:  ZZ^      "'  '°^'"'""""  «"  <- 


Block  House  Built  in  1780. 

ti'l'"'  ~P»^^^  tfo  company  select 

wh'eU  consisted  of  from  Ave  to  tl!„!  7?^'  °'  '"^  P""'=»l"  briga.ic 
oh-f  or  manager,  wben  rl^^T^  I      :'''''''''' ^''' ''^'^   ^^'^ 

--^-.nnder..,r;— rc:^^^^^^^^ 

VVe  will  here  alhide  to  Mr   A«f    . 

^eriean  emporium  for  t  .t  ^rttT  '^  ^^^^'^^'^^^  ^ 

trade  at  the  moutli  of  th© 


ma 


itm 


1,1 


54' 


ANNALS   OF    FORT   MACKINAC. 


Coliiiiibia  River,  which  enterprise  failed,  throngli  the  capture 
of  Astoria  by  the  British  in  1814,  and  the  neglect  of  our 
government  to  give  him  protection.  The  witlidrawal  of  Mr. 
Astor  from  the  Pacific  coast,  left  the  Northwest  Fur  Com- 
pany to  consider  themselves  the  lords  of  the  country.  They 
did  not  long  enjoy  the  field  unmolested,  however.  A  fierce 
competition  ensued  between  them  and  their  old  rivals,  the 
Iludson's  Bay  Company,  which  was  carried  on  at  great  cost 
and  sacrifice,  and,  occasionally,  with  the  loss  of  life.  It 
ended  in  the  ruin  of  most  of  the  partners  of  the  Northwest 
Company,  and  merging  of  the  relics  of  that  establishment, 
in  1821,  in  the  rival  association. 

Ramsey  Crooks  was  a  foremost  man  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Astor  in  the 
fur  trade,  not  only  in  the  east,  but  upon  the  western  coast,  and  has  been 
called  "the  adventurous  Rocky  Mountain  trader."  Intimately  connected, 
as  Mr.  Crooks  was,  with  the  American  Fur  Company,  a  slight  notice  of 
him  will  not  be  out  of  place.  Mr.  Crooks  was  a  native  of  Greenock, 
Scotland,  and  was  employed  as  a  trader  in  Wisconsin,  as  early  as  1806. 
He  entered  the  service  of  Mr.  Astor  in  1809.  In  1813,  he  returned  from 
his  three  years'  journey  to  the  western  coast,  and  in  1817  he  joined  Mr. 
Astor  as  a  partner,  and  for  four  or  five  yean?  ensuing  he  was  the  company's 
Mackinac  agent,  though  residing  mostly  in  New  York.  Mr.  Crooks  con- 
tinued a  partner  until  1880,  when  this  connection  was  dissolved  and  he 
resumed  his  place  with  Mr.  Astor  in  his  former  capacity.  In  1834,  Mr. 
Astor,  being  advanced  in  years,  sold  out  the  stock  of  the  company,  and 
transferred  the  charter  to  Ramsey  Crooks  and  his  associates,  whereupon 
Mr.  C.  was  elected  president  of  the  company.  Reverses,  however,  com- 
pelled an  assignment  in  1842,  and  with  it  the  death  of  the  American  Fur 
Company.  In  1845,  Mr.  Crooks  opened  a  commission  house  for  the  sale 
of  furs  and  skins,  in  New  York  City.  This  business,  which  was  success- 
ful, Mr.  C.  continued  until  his  death.  Mr.  Crooks  died  in  New  York, 
June  6,  1859,  in  his  78d  year.    Mr.  Astor  died  in  1848. 

Washington  Irving,  in  his  "Astoria,"  gives  a  graphic 
account  of  the  occasional  meetings  of  the  partners,  agents 
and  employes  of  the  old  Northwest  Fur  Company,  at  Mont- 


AMERICAN    lUli   COMPANY. 


55 


e  capture 
et  of  our 
p-al  of  Mr. 
Fur  Com- 
7.    They 

A  fierce 
rivals,  the 
great  cost 

life.  It 
Northwest 
blishment, 


real  and  Fort  William,  where  they  kept  liigh  days  and  nights 
of  wassail  and  feasting ;  of  song  and  tales  of  adventure  and 
hairbreadth  escapes.  But  of  those  lavish  and  merry  halls 
of  the  old  "Northwest,"  we  need  suggest  no  comparison 
with  the  agency  dwelling  of  the  American  Fur  Company  at 
Mackinac,  where  the  expenses  charged  for  the  year  1821 
were  only  $678.49.  In  that  account,  however,  we  notice  the 
following  entries  :  "31^  gallons  Teneriffe  Wine,  4^  gallons 
Port  Wine;  10  gallons  best  Madeira;  70^  gallons  Ued 
Wine ;  9  gallons  Brandy  ;  and  one  barrel  qfflourP 


Astor  in  the 
ad  has  been 
[y  connected, 
jht  notice  of 
)f  Greenock, 
arly  as  1806. 
jturned  from 
joined  Mr. 
,e  company's 
Crooks  con- 
ilved  and  he 
|ln  1834,  Mr. 
(inpany,  and 
whereupon 
iwever,  com- 
erican  Pur 
for  the  sale 
[v7as  success* 
New  York, 


a  graphic 

Irs,  agents 

at  Mont- 


i 


ilii 


e 


tn 


o 


ea 
o 
ee 


;  iL_ 


LEGEND  OF  "ROBERTSON'S  FOLLY." 


(A 


(A 


O 

tc 

UJ 

CO 

o 
oe 


Captain  Kobrrtson  was  a  gay  young  English  oflScer  and 
a  great  admirer  of  the  ladies.  One  pleasant  summer  even* 
ing,  as  he  was  strolling  in  the  woods  at  the  back  of  the  fort 
enjoying  his  pipe,  he  suddenly  beheld,  a  few  rods  before 
him  rmd  just  crossing  his  path,  a  female  of  most  exquisite 
form,  feature  and  complexion ;  she  seemed  about  nineteen ; 
was  simply  dressed;  wore  her  long  black  hair  in  flowing 
tresses ;  and  as  for  a  moment  she  turned  on  him  her  lustrous 
black  eyes,  her  whole  countenance  lighting  up  with  anima- 
tion, the  gallant  captain  thought  he  had  never  before  seen 
80  beautiful  a  creature.  He  politely  doffed  his  cap  and 
quickened  his  steps,  hoping  to  engage  her  in  conversation. 
She  likewise  hastened,  evidently  with  the  design  of  escaping 
him.  Presently  she  disappeared  around  a  curve  in  the  road, 
and  Kobertson  lost  sight  of  her. 

At  the  officers'  quarters  that  night  nothing  was  talked  of 
but  the  young  lady  and  her  possible  identity.  She  was 
clearly  not  a  native,  and  no  vessel  had  been  known  to  touch 
at  the  island  for  many  a  week.  Who  could  she  be  ?  Cap- 
tain Robertson  could  hardly  sleep  that  night.  A  rigid 
inquiry  was  instituted  in  the  village.  The  only  effect  was 
to  engender  as  intense  curiosity  in  the  town  as  already 
existed  among  the  garrison. 

As  the  shades  of  evening  drew  near,  the  captain  was  again 
walking  in  the  pleasant  groves  enjoying  the  delightful  lake 
breezes  and  the  whiff  of  his  favorite  pipe.  He  was  think- 
ing of  last  evening's  apparition,  and  blaming  himself  for 
not  pressing  on  more  vigorously,  or  at  least  calling  to  the 


[57] 


68 


ANNALS   OF   FORT   MACKINAC. 


M 


ill 


'* 


i 


fair  spcctr;.  At  this  moment,  raising  his  eyes  from  the 
ground,  there  she  was  again,  slowly  preceding  him  at  a  dis- 
tance of  scarcely  more  than  thirty  yards.  As  soon  as  his 
astonishment  would  permit,  and  as  speedily  as  he  could 
frame  an  excuse,  he  called  to  her  :  "  Mademoiselle,  I — I  beg 
your  pardon." 

She  turned  on  him  one  glance,  her  face  radiant  with  smiles, 
then  redoubled  her  pace.  The  captain  redoubled  his,  and 
soon  broke  into  a  run.  Still  she  kept  the  interval  between 
them  undiminished.  A  bend  of  the  road,  and  again  she  was 
gone.  The  captain  sought  her  quickly,  but  in  vain ;  he  then 
rushed  back  to  the  fort  and  called  out  a  general  posse  of 
officers  and  men  to  scour  the  island,  and,  by  capturing  the 
maiden  to  solve  the  mystery.  Though  the  search  was  kept 
up  till  a  late  hour  in  the  night,  not  a  trace  could  be  found 
of  her.  The  captain  now  began  to  be  laughed  at,  and  jokes 
were  freely  bandied  at  his  expense. 

Two  days  passed  away,  and  the  fantasy  of  Captain  Robert- 
son began  to  be  forgotten  by  his  brother  officers,  but  the 
captain  himself  maintained  a  gloomy,  thoughtful  mood — the 
truth  is  he  was  in  love  with  the  woman  he  had  only  twice 
seen,  and  who  he  felt  assured  was  somewhere  secreted  on 
tiie  island.  Plans  for  her  discovery  revolved  in  his  brain 
day  and  night,  and  visions  of  romance  and  happiness  were 
ever  flitting  before  his  eyes.  It  was  on  the  evening  of  the* 
second  day  that  he  was  irresistibly  led  to  walk  again  in  the 
shady  path  in  which  the  apparition  had  twice  appeared  to  him. 
It  led  to  the  brow  of  the  precipice  at  the  southeastern  corner 
of  the  island.  He  had  nearly  reached  the  famous  point 
from  which  we  now  look  down  perpendicularly  128  feet  into 
the  placid  waters  of  Lake  Huron,  when,  sitting  on  a  large 
stone,  apparently  enjoying  the  magnificent  scene  spread  out 
before  her,  he  discovered  the  object  of  his  solicitude.  Escape 
from  him  was  now  impossible,  silently  he  stole  up  to  her. 


ROBERTSON  S    FOLLY. 


59 


A  crunching  of  the  gravel  under  his  feet,  however,  disturbed 
her,  and  turning,  her  eyes  met  his. 

"  Pretty  maiden,  why  thus  attempt  to  ehide  me  ?  Who 
are  you  ? "  There  was  no  answer,  but  the  lady  arose  from 
the  rock  and  retreated  nearer  tlie  brink  of  the  precipice,  at 
the  same  timo  glancing  to  the  right  and  left,  as  if  seeking  a 
loop-hole  of  escape. 

"  Do  not  fear  me,"  said  the  captain,  "  I  am  commander  of 
tlie  garrison  at  the  fort  here.  No  harm  shall  come  to  you, 
but  do  pray  tell  me  who  you  are,  and  how  you  came  on  this 
island!" 

The  lady  still  maintained  a  stolid  silence,  but  in  the  fading 
light  looked  more  beautiful  than  ever.  She  was  now  stand- 
ing within  three  feet  of  the  brink  with  her  back  to  the 
terrible  abyss.  The  captain  shuddered  at  the  thought  of  her 
makmg  an  unguarded  step  and  being  dashed  to  pieces  on 
the  rocks  below.  So  he  tried  to  calm  her  fears  lest,  in  her 
agitation,  she  might  precipitate  a  terrible  catastrophe. 

"  My  dear  young  lady,"  he  began,  "  I  see  you  fear  me, 
and  1  will  leave  you ;  but  for  heaven's  sake  do  pray  tell  me 
your  name  and  where  you  reside.  Not  a  hair  of  your  head 
shall  be  harmed,  but  Captain  Robertson,  your  devoted  ser- 
vant, will  go  through  fire  and  water  to  do  your  commands. 
Once  more,  my  dear  girl,  do  speak  to  me,  if  but  a  word 
before  we  part." 

As  the  captain  warmed  up  in  his  address,  he  incautiously 
advanced  a  step.  The  girl  retreated  another  step,  and  now 
stood  where  the  slightest  loss  of  balance  must  prove  her 
death. 

Quick  as  thought,  the  captain  sprang  forward  to  seize  her 
and  avert  so  terrible  a  tragedy,  but  just  as  he  clutched  her 
arm,  she  threw  herself  backward  into  the  chasm,  drawing 
her  tormentor  and  would-be  savior  with  her,  and  both  were 
instantly  dashed  on  to  the  rocks  below. 


!i 


60 


ANNAL8    OF    FORT   MAOKINAO. 


His  mangled  remains  were  found  at  the  foot  of  the  preci- 
pice, but,  singular  as  it  may  seem,  not  a  vestige  could  bo 
found  of  the  woman  for  whose  life  his  own  had  been  sacri- 
ficed. His  body  alone  could  be  discovered  and  it  was  taken 
up  and  buried  in  a  shady  nook  near  the  middle  of  the  island. 
He  was  long  mourned  by  his  men  and  brother  officers,  for 
he  was  much  beloved  for  his  high  social  qualities  and  genial 
deportment ;  but  by  and  by  it  began  to  be  wliispered  that 
the  captain  had  indulged  too  freely  in  the  fine  old  French 
brandy  that  the  fur  traders  brought  up  from  Montreal,  and 
that  the  lady  he  professed  to  see  was  a  mere  ignis  faiuxts  of 
his  own  excited  imagination.  But  the  mantle  of  charity 
has  been  thrown  over  the  tragedy,  and  a  commonplace 
explanation  given  for  the  name  the  rocky  point  has  acquired, 
of  "  Kobektson's  Folly." 


LEGEND  OF  "LOVER'S  LEAP." 


Many  years  ago,  there  lived  a  warrior  on  this  island  whose 
name  was  Wawanosh.  He  was  the  chief  of  an  ancient 
family  of  his  tribe,  who  had  preserved  the  line  of  chieftain- 
ship unbroken  from  a  remote  time,  and  he  consequently 
cherished  a  pride  of  ancestry.  To  the  reputation  of  birth 
he  added  the  advantages  of  a  tall  and  commanding  person, 
and  the  dazzling  qualities  of  personal  strength,  courage  and 
activity.  His  bow  was  noted  for  its  size,  and  the  feats  he 
had  performed  with  it.  His  counsel  was  sought  as  much  as 
his  strength  was  feared,  so  that  he  came  to  be  equally 
regarded  as  a  hunter,  a  warrior  and  a  counsellor. 

Such  was  Wawanosh,  to  whom  the  united  voice  of  the 
nation  awarded  the  first  place  in  their  esteem,  and  the  highest 
authority  in  council.  But  distinction,  it  seems,  is  apt  to 
engender  haughtiness  in  the  hunter  state  as  well  as  civilized 
life.  Pride  was  his  ruling  passion,  and  he  clung  with  ten- 
acity to  the  distinctions  which  he  regarded  as  an  inheritance. 

Wawanosh  had  an  only  daughter,  who  had  now  lived  to 
witness  the  budding  of  the  leaves  of  the  eighteenth  spring. 
Her  father  was  not  more  celebrated  for  his  deeds  of  strength 
than  she  for  her  gentle  virtues,  her  slender  form,  her  full, 
beaming  hazel  eyes,  and  her  dark  and  flowing  hair. 

Her  hand  was  sought  by  a  young  man  of  humble  parent- 
age, who  had  no  other  merits  to  recommend  him  but  such  as 
might  arise  from  a  tall  and  commanding  person,  a  manly 
step,  and  an  eye  beaming  with  the  tropical  fires  of  youth  and 
love.     These  were  sufficient  to  attract  the  favorable  notice 

[•tl 


62 


ANNAL8   OP   FOKT   MACKINAC. 


of  tlie  daughter,  but  were  by  no  means  satiBfactory  to  the 
father,  who  sought  an  alliance  more  suitable  to  the  rank  and 
the  high  pretensions  of  his  family., 

"Listen  to  me,  young  man,"  he  replied  to  the  trembling 
hunter,  who  had  sought  the  interview,  "  and  be  attentive  to 
my  words.  You  ask  me  to  bestow  upon  you  my  daughter, 
the  chief  solace  of  my  age,  and  my  choicest  gift  from  the 
Master  of  Life.  Others  have  asked  of  me  this  boon,  who 
were  as  young,  as  active  and  as  ardent  as  yourself.  Some  of 
these  persons  have  had  better  claims  to  become  my  son-in- 
law.  Have  you  reflected  upon  the  deeds  which  have  raised 
me  in  authority,  and  made  my  name  known  to  the  enemies 
of  my  nation  ?  Where  is  there  a  cliief  who  is  not  proud  to 
be  considered  the  friend  of  Wawanosh  ?  Where,  in  all  the 
land,  is  there  a  hunter  who  has  excelled  Wawanosh  i  Where 
is  there  a  warrior  who  can  boast  the  taking  of  an  equal  num- 
ber of  scalps  ?  besides,  have  you  not  heard  that  my  fathers 
came  from  the  East,  bearing  the  marks  of  chieftaincy  ?" 

"And  what,  young  man,  have  you  to  boast?  Have  you 
ever  met  your  enemies  in  the  Held  of  battle?  llavo  you 
ever  brought  home  a  trophy  f  victory?  Have  you  ever 
proved  your  fortitude  by  suffering  protracted  pain,  enduring 
continued  hunger,  or  sustaining  great  fatigue?  Is  your 
name  known  beyond  the  humble  limits  of  your  native  vil- 
lage? Go,  then,  young  man,  and  earn  a  name  for  yourself. 
It  is  none  but  the  brave  that  can  ever  hope  to  claim  an 
alliance  with  the  house  of  Wawanosh." 

The  intimidated  lover  departed,  but  he  resolved  to  do  a 
deed  that  should  render  him  worthy  of  the  daughter  of 
Wawanosh,  or  die  in  the  attempt.  He  called  together 
several  of  his  young  companions  and  equals  in  years,  and 
imparted  to  them  his  design  of  conducting  an  expedition 
against  the  enemy,  and  requested  their  assistance.  Several 
ijmbraced  the  proposal  immediately ;  and,  before  ten  suns 


LEOEND   OP   "L0VER*8   LEA1»." 


C3 


to  the 
nk  and 

mbling 

tive  to 

flgliter, 

)in  the 

n,  who 

ome  of 

8on-in- 

I  raised 

tnemies 

•oud  to 

all  the 

Where 

al  num- 

fathers 

ve  you 
ve  you 
jw  ever 
Id  n  ring 
your 
|ve  vil- 
lurself. 
lim  an 

do  a 
ter  of 
tether 

and 
lition 
jveral 

Buns 


set.  he  saw  himself  at  the  head  of  a  formidable  party  of 
young  warriors,  all  eager,  like  himself,  to  distinguish  them- 
selves in  battle.  Each  warrior  was  armed,  according  to  the 
custom  of  the  period,  with  a  bow  and  a  quiver  of  arrows, 
tipped  with  flint  or  jasper.  He  carried  a  sack  or  wallet, 
provided  with  a  small  quantity  of  parched  and  pounded 
corn,  mixed  with  pemmican  or  maple-sugar.  Ho  was  fur- 
nished with  a  Puggamaugun,  or  war-club  of  hard  wood, 
fastened  to  a  girdle  of  deerskin,  and  a  stone  or  copper  knife. 
In  addition  to  this,  some  carried  the  ancient  bhemagun^  or 
lance,  a  smooth  pole  about  a  fathom  in  length,  with  a  javelin 
of  flint  firmly  tied  on  with  deer's  sinews.  Thus  equipped, 
and  each  warrior  painted  in  a  manner  to  suit  his  fancy,  and 
ornamented  with  appropriate  feathers,  they  repaired  to  the 
spot  appointed  for  the  war-dance. 

A  level,  grassy  plain  extended  for  nearly  a  mile  from  the 
lodge  of  Wawanosh  along  the  lake  shore.  Lodges  of  bark 
were  promiscuously  interspersed  over  this  green,  and  here 
and  there  a  solitary  tall  pine.  A  belt  of  yellow  sand  skirted 
the  lake  shore  in  front,  and  a  tall,  thick  forest  formed  the 
background.  In  the  center  of  this  plain  stood  a  high,  shat- 
tered pine,  with  a  clear  space  about,  renowned  as  the  scene 
of  the  war-dance  time  out  of  mind.  Here  the  youths  assem- 
bled, with  their  tall  and  graceful  leader,  distinguished  by  the 
feathers  of  the  bald-eagle,  which  he  wore  on  his  head.  A 
bright  fire  of  pine  wood  blazed  upon  the  green.  He  led  his 
men  several  times  around  this  fire,  with  a  measured  and 
solemn  chant.  Then  suddenly  halting,  the  war-whoop  was 
raised,  and  the  dance  immediately  began.  An  old  man, 
sitting  at  the  head  of  the  ring,  beat  time  upon  the  drum, 
while  several  of  the  elder  warriors  shook  their  rattles,  and 

* 

*'  ever  and  anon  "  made  the  woods  re-echo  with  their  veils. 

Thus  they  con ti nurd  the  dance  for  two  successive  days 
and  nights. 


H 


ANNALS    OF   FORT   MACKINAC. 


At  length  the  prophet  uttered  his  final  prediction  of  euc- 
cese;  and  the  warriors  dropping  off,  one  by  one,  from  the 
tire,  took  their  way  to  the  place  appointed  for  the  rendez- 
vous, on  the  confines  of  the  enemy's  country.  Their  leader 
was  not  among  the  last  to  depart,  but  he  did  not  leave  the 
village  without  seeking  an  interview  with  the  daughter  of 
Wawanosh.  He  disclosed  to  her  his  firm  determination 
never  to  return,  unless  he  could  establish  his  name  as  a 
warrior.  He  told  her  of  the  pangs  he  had  felt  at  the  bitter 
reproaches  of  iicr  father,  and  declared  that  his  soul  spurned 
the  imputation  of  effeminacy  and  cowardice  implied  by  his 
language.  He  averred  that  he  could  never  be  happy  until 
he  bad  proved  to  the  whole  tribe  the  strength  of  his  heart. 
He  said  that  his  dreams  hud  not  been  propitious,  but  he 
should  not  cease  to  invoke  the  power  of  the  Great  Spirit. 
He  repeated  his  protestations  of  inviolable  attachment,  which 
she  returned,  and,  pledging  vows  of  mutual  fidelity,  they 
parted. 

That  parting  proved  final.  All  she  ever  heard  from  her 
lover  after  this  interview  waa  brought  by  one  of  his  suc3ess- 
ful  warriors,  who  said  that  he  had  distinguished  himself  by 
the  most  heroic  bravery,  but,  at  the  close  of  the  fight,  he 
had  received  an  arrow  in  his  breast.  The  enemy  fled,  leaving 
many  of  their  warriors  dead  on  the  field.  On  examining 
the  wound,  it  was  perceived  to  be  beyond  their  power  to 
cure.  They  carried  him  toward  home  a  day's  journey,  but 
he  languished  and  expired  in  the  arms  of  his  friends.  From 
the  moment  the  report  was  received,  no  smile  r/as  ev^r  seen 
in  the  once  happy  lodge  of  Wawanosh.  His  daughter  pined 
away  by  day  and  by  night.  Tears,  sighs  and  lamentation 
^ere  heard  continually.  Nothing  could  restore  her  lost 
serenity  of  mind.  Persuasives  and  reproofs  were  alternately 
employed,  but  employed  in  ^ain.  She  would  seek  a  seques- 
tered spot,  where  she  would  sit   and  sing  her  mournfal 


LEGEND    OF    "  LOVER's    LEAP." 


65. 


laments   ^or  hours   together.      Passages   of    these   are   yet 
repeated  by  tradition,  one  of  which  we  give:  .     ' 


THE  LOON'S  FOOT. 

I  thought  it  was  the  loon's  foot,  I  saw  beueath  the  tide, 
But  no — it  was  my  lover's  shining  paddle  I  espied; 
It  was  my  lover's  paddle,  as  my  glance  I  upward  cast, 
That  dipped  so  light  and  gracefully  as  o'er  the  lake  I  paasc  i. 
The  loon's  font—the  loon's  foot, 

'lis  graceful  on  the  sea; 
But  not  so  light  and  joyous  as 
That  paddle-blade  to  me. 

My  eyes  were  bent  upon  the  wave,  I  cast  them  not  aside, 
And  thought  I  saw  the  loon  3  foot  beneath  1  he  silver  tide. 
But  ahl  my  eyes  deceived  mo— for  as  my  glance  I  cast. 
It  was  my  lover's  paddle-blade  that  dipped  so  light  and  fast. 
The  loon's  foot— the  loon's  foot, 

'Tis  sweet  and  fair  to  see; 
But,  oh,  my  lover's  paddle-blade, 
Is  sweeter  far  to  me. 

The  lake's  wave — the  long  wave— the  billow  big  and  free. 
It  wafts  me  up  and  down,  within  my  yellow  light  canoe; 
But  while  I  see  beneath  heaven  pictured  as  I  speed, 
I'  is  that  beauteous  paddle-blade  that  makes  it  heaven  indeed. 
The  'oon's  foot— the  loon's  foot. 

The  bird  upon  the  sea, 
Ab!  it  is  not  so  beauteous 
Am  thr.i,  paddle-blade  to  me. 

It  was  not  long  before  a  small  bird  of  beautiful  plumage 
flew  upon  the  rock  on  wliich  she  usually  sat.  This  mysteri- 
ous 7isitor,  which,  from  it«  sweet  and  artless  notes,  is  called 
Chileeli,  seemed  to  respond  in  sympatliy  to  her  plaintive 
voice.  It  was  a  strange  hird;  sird)  as  had  not  before  been 
observed.     It  came  every  day  and  remained   chanting  its 


I 


il 


,:' 


66 


ANNALS   OF    FOKT   MACKINAC. 


notes  till  nightfall ;  and  when  it  left  its  perch,  it  seemed, 
from  the  delicate  play  of  the  colors  of  its  plumage,  as  if  it 
had  taken  its  hues  from  the  rainbow.  Her  fond  imagination 
soon  led  her  to  suppose  it  was  the  spirit  of  her  lover,  and 
her  visits  to  the  lonely  rock  were  repeated  more  frequently. 
She  passed  much  of  her  time  in  fasting  and  singing  her 
plaintive  songs.  There  she  pined  away,  taking  little  nour- 
ishment, and  constantly  desiring  .to  pass  away  to  that  land  of 
expected  bliss  and  freedom  from  care,  where  it  is  believed 
that  the  spirits  of^men  will  bo  again  reunited,  and  tread 
over  fields  of  flowery  enjoyment.  One  evening,  her  lifeless 
body  was  found  at  the  foot  of  the  rock,  but  when  death 
came  to  her,  it  was  not  as  the  bearer  of  gloom  and  regrets, 
bat  as  the  herald  of  happiness. 


■f! 

I 


Beemed, 
,  as  if  it 
igination 
)ver,  and 
jquently. 
ymg  her 
tie  nour- 
t  land  of 
believed 
nd  tread 
ir  lifeless 
en  death 
I  regrets, 


•-I 


LEGEND  OF  "ARCH  ROCK." 


After  the  Gitche  Manitou  had  called  into  existence  the 
beautiful  Island  of  Mackinac  and  given  it  into  the  care  of 
the  kindred  spirits  of  earth,  air  and  water,  and  had  told 
tham  it  was  only  to  be  the  abode  of  peace  and  quiet,  it  was 
80  pleasant  in  his  own  eyes  that  he  thought,  "  Here  will  I 
also  come  to  dwell,  tliis  shall  be  my  abode  and  my  children 
may  come  and  worship  me  here.  Hero  in  the  depths  of  the 
beautiful  forest  they  shall  come." 

Then  calling  his  messengers,  he  bade  them  fly  to  all  lands 
of  heat  and  noise  and  troublous  insects,  and  tell  the  suffering 
ones  of  every  race  and  clime  that  in  these  northern  waters 
was  a  place  prepared  where  they  could  come  and  rest,  leaving 
all  care  behind.  * 

In  the  straits  of  Mackinac, 
In  the  clear  pellucid  wave, 
Sitting  like  an  emerald  gem. 
Is  the  rock-girt  Fairy  Isle. 

Round  its  bold  and  craggy  shore 
Sweep  the  billows  far  and  wide, 
With  a.  gentle  sinuous  swell. 
And  the  moan  of  distant  seas. 

Blue  its  wa::-»rs.  blue  the  sky, 

Soft  the  w^t  wind  from  afar 

Moving  o'er  the  scented  grass. 

And  the  many  myriad  flowers.  * 

The  cool  invigorating  breezes  shall  bring  health  and  elasti- 
city to  the  weak  and  weary.     Here  dis&ise  shall  not  daro 

[67] 


mm.'smmm 


ANNALS  OF   FOBT  MAC&INAC. 


invade  the  pleasant  glens  or  beautiful  hilltops.  Here  let  them 
come  and  receive  my  blessing. 

"  Ye  shall  also  tell  the  stranger  friends,  who  may  come  to 
seek  me,  tliat  my  royal  landing  is  on  the  eastern  shore ;  there 
shall  they  draw  up  the  canoes  upon  the  pebbly  beaeh  under 
the  shadow  of  the  Argued  Gateway.  Under  the  Aroh 
which  they  can  see  from  afar,  let  them  come  with  songs  of 
rejoicing — neither  night  or  day  shall  it  be  closed  to  any  one 
who  may  seek  me.  Let  them  land  before  it  and  pass  through 
it  and  ascend  to  my  dwelling,  and  worship  before  me. 

When  the  great  spirit  made  known  his  wish  to  dwell  with 
men,  all  nature  seemed  to  rejoice  and  to  make  preparations 
for  his  abode. 

The  tallest  trees  claimed  the  privilege  of  being  the  poles 
of  his  wigwam,  and  sweot  balsam  firs  laid  themselves  at  his 
feet  for  use. 

The  birch  trees  unsheathed  themselves  and  sent  their  bark 
in  all  its  soft  cream;;  whiteness  to  form  the  outside  covering. 

The  trees  of  the  forest  all  vied  with  each  other  in  seeking 
a  i>lace  in  the  future  home  of  the  Gitche  Manitou. 

Scarcely  had  the  poles  iitted  themselves  into  their  places, 
and  the  birch  bark  unrolled  itself  and  arranged  its  clinging 
iheets  in  orderly  lows  upon  the  outside,  when  the  noise  of 
distant  j>addle8  was  lieard  from  the  lake — swiftly  and  gaily 
they  drew  near,  guided  by  th  spirits  of  earth,  air  and  water. 
Never  had  such  a  sight  been  witnessed  on  this  earth. 

The  Gitfhe  Manitou,  went  to  meet  them,  and  stood  upon 
the  Abch  and  upheld  his  hands  in  blessing. 

Aci  his  children  unloaded  their  offerings  of  beaver,  white- 
bear  and  other  skins,  they  marched  in  procession  up  to  the 
gateway  and  fell  upon  their  knees  and  offered  their  thanks 
to  the  great  spirit  for  the  happy  privilege  of  contributing  to 
the  comforts  of  his  e.irthly  home. 


LEGEND   OF    "  ARCH    ROCK." 


09 


"  Yea,  my  children  dear,  my  loved  ones, 
I  am  here  in  joy  and  gladness. 
Here  to  live  in  peace  among  you. 
I  have  come  to  teach  you  wisdom 
In  the  arts  of  love  and  living. 
I  accept  your  nati        ierings, 
These  white  bear,  and  fox  skins  silvery, 
Shall  a  couch  of  warmth  and  comfort 
Make  for  me  when  around  ray  fire, 
I  am  resting  from  my  labors. 
Of  the  beaver  skinii  and  otters 
They  shall  line  the  wigwam  smoothly, 
So  Ka-bi-bo-nck-ka,  the  north  wind, 
Ne'er  shall  peep  or  whistle  thrd'  them. 
Enter  in  my  gateway  proudly, 
And  ascend  my  staircase  slowly, 
And  see  the  home  of  the  Great  Spirit, 
Where  he  dwells  among  his  children.'* 


'I 


Thoy  did  as  he  corairianded,  and  when  they  were  about  to 
return  he  thus  addressed  them: 

"  Now,  my  children,  as  you  leave  me. 
Forth  to  go  upon  your  journeyings,     • 
Tell  to  all  who  know  and  love  me. 
That  whenever  a  chieftain 
Wooes  and  weds  a  dark-eyed  maiden, 
He  shall  bring  her  here  before  me, 
Gay  with  garlands,  sweet  with  roses. 
With  the  sound  of  music  fleeting 
Far  and  near  from  every  islet 
That  lies  sleeping  in  these  waters, 
In  these  glittering,  dark  green  waters. 
Sweetest  strains  of  music  blending 
Shall  salute  them,  as  the  billows 
Of  the  mighty  lake  of  wonders 
Bears  them  onward  to  the  portals, 
Where  my  blessing  will  await  them, 
And  as  long  as  they  thus  serve  rae 
I  will  dwell  upon  this  island, 
Henceforth  blessing  youth  and  maiden 
Joined  in  closest  bonds  of  wedlock. 


lil' 


70 


LEGEND   OF    "  ARCU    KOCK." 


But,  if  in  the  coming  seasons, 
Some  foul  spirit  rgams  among  you, 
And  destroys  my  loving  children, 
This  fair  home  that  I  have  built 
.     -  Shall  become  a  rocky  fastness, 

Where  they  all  may  fly  for  shelter 
And  be  safe  in  my  protection." 

Many,  many  years  have  passed.  The  wigwam  ot  the 
Great  Spirit  has  been  transmuted  into  stone,  and  is  now 
known  as  the  Pyramid. 

The  Arched  Gateway  can  still  be  seen  as  in  ancient  times, 
with  its  portals  guarded  by  tall  greon  sentinels. 


LEGEND  OF  MACKINAC  ISLAND, 


Thbrb  onco  lived  an  Indian  in  the  north,  who  had  ten 
danghters,  all  of  whom  grew  up  to  womanhood.  They  were 
noted  for  their  beauty,  but  especially  Oweenee,  the  youngest, 
who  was  very  independent  in  her  way  of  thinking.  She 
was  a^grcat  admirer  of  romantic  places,  and  paid  very  little 
attention  to  the  numerous  young  men  who  came  to  her 
father's  lodge  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  her.  Her  elder  sis- 
ters were  all  solicited  in  marriage  from  their  parents,  and  one 
after  another  went  off  to  dwell  in  the  lodges  of  their  husbands, 
but  she  would  listen  to  uo  proposals  of  the  kind.  At  last  she 
married  an  old  man  called  Osseo,who  was  scarcely  able  to  walk, 
and  too  poor  to  have  things  like  others.  They  jeered  and 
laughed  at  her  on  all  sides,  but  she  seemed  to  be  quite  happy, 
and  said  to  them,  "  It  is  my  choice,  and  you  will  see  in  the  end 
who  has  acted  the  wisest."  Soon  after,  the  sisters  and  their 
husbands  and  their  parents  were  all  invited  to  a  feast,  and 
as  they  walked  along  the  path,  they  could  not  help  pitying 
their  young  and  handsome  sister,  who  had  such  an  unsuitable 
mate.  Osseo  often  stopped  and  gazed  upward,  but  they 
could  perceive  nothing  in  the  direction  he  looked,  unless  it 
was  the  faint  glimmering  of  the  evening  star.  They  heard 
him  muttering  to  himself  as  they  went  along,  and  one  of  the 
older  sisters  caught  the  words,  "  Sho-wain-ne-me-shin  nosa."* 
"  Poor  old  man,"  said  she,  *'  he  is  talking  to  his  father,  what 
a  pity  it  is  that  he  would  not  fall  and  break  his  neck,  that 
our  sister  might  have  a  handsome  young  husband."    Pres* 

*Pity  mc,  my  father. 
[71] 


72 


ANNAL8   OF   FORT   MAOKINAO. 


! 


'!ili 


ently  they  passed  a  large  liollow  log,  lying  with  one  end  to- 
ward the  path.  The  moment  Osseo,  who  was  of  the  turtle 
totem,  came  to  it,  he  stopped  short,  uttered  a  loud  and 
peculiar  yell,  and  then  dashing  into  one  end  of  the  log,  he 
came  out  at  the  other,  a  most  beautiful  young  man,  and 
springing  back  to  the  road,  he  Jed  oflf  the  party  with  steps 
as  light  as  the  reindeer.  But  on  turning  round  to  look  for 
his  wife,  behold,  she  had  been  changed  into  an  old,  decrepit 
woman,  who  was  bent  almost  double,  and  walked  with  a 
cane.  The  husband,  however,  treated  her  very  kindly,  as 
she  had  done  him  daring  the  time  of  his  enchantment,  and 
constantly  addressed  her  by  the  term  of  ne-ne-moosh-a,  or 
my  sweet-heart. 

When  they  came  to  the  hunter's  lodge  with  whom  they 
were  to  feast,  they  found  the  feast  ready  prepared,  and  as 
soon  as  their  entertainer  had  finished  his  harangue  (in  which 
he  told  them  his  feasting  was  in  honor  of  the  Evening  or 
Woman's  Star),  they  began  to  partake  of  the  portion  dealt 
out,  according  to  age  and  character,  to  each  one.  The  food 
was  very  delicious,  and  they  were  all  happy  but  Osseo,  who 
looked  at  his  wife  and  then  gazed  upward,  as  if  he  was 
looking  into  the  fAibstance  of  the  sky.  Sounds  were  soon 
heard,  as  if  from  far-off  voices  in  the  air,  and  they  became 
plainer  and  plainer,  till  he  could  clearly  distinguish  some  of 
the  words." 

"My  son — my  son,"  said  the  voice,  "I  have  seen  your 
afflictions  and  pity  your  wants.  I  come  to  call  you  away 
from  a  scene  that  is  stained  with  blood  and  tears.  The 
earth  is  full  of  sorrows.  Giants  and  sorcerers,  the  enemies 
of  mankind,  walk  abroad  in  it,  and  are  scattered  through- 
out its  length.  Every  night  they  are  lifting  their  voices  to 
the  Power  of  Evil,  and  every  day  they  make  themselves 
busy  in  casting  evil  in  the  hunter's  path.  You  have  long 
been  their  victim,  but  shall  be  ihoir  victim  no  more.     The 


LEOENI)   OF    MACKINAC    ISLAND. 


7a 


end  to- 
e  turtle 
ad   and 

log,  he 
un,  and 
:li  steps 
ook  for 
iecrepit 

with  a 
[idly,  as 
3nt,  and 
sh-a,  or 

►m  they 

,  and  as 

1  which 

ning  or 

n  dealt 

le  food 

0,  who 

he  was 

e  soon 

ccame 

me  of 

your 
away 

The 

liemies 

[•ough- 

jes  to 

selves 

long 

The 


spell  you  were  under  is  broken.  Your  evil  genius  is  over- 
come. I  have  cast  him  down  by  my  superior  strength,  and 
this  strength  I  now  exert  for  your  happiness.  Ascend, 
my  son — ascend  into  the  skies,  and  partake  of  the  feast  1 
have  prepared  for  you  in  the  stars,  and  bring  with  you  those 
you  love. 

"Tho  food  set  before  you  is  enchanted  and  blessed. 
Fear  not  to  partake  of  it.  It  is  endowed  with  magic  power 
to  give  immortality  to  mortals,  and  to  change  men  to 
spirits.  Your  bowls  and  kettles  shall  be  no  longer  wood 
and  earth.  Tho  one  shall  become  silver,  and  the  other 
wampum.  They  shall  shine  like  fire,  and  glisten  like  the 
most  beautiful  scarlet.  Every  female  shall  also  change  her 
state  and  looks,  and  no  longer  be  doomed  to  laborious 
tasks.  She  shall  put  on  the  beauty  of  the  starlight,  and 
become  a  shining  bird  of  the  air,  clothed  with  shining 
feathers.  She  shall  dance  and  not  work — she  shall  sing 
and  not  cry." 

"My  beams,"  continued  tho  voice,  "shine  faintly  on  your 
lodge,  but  they  have  power  to  transform  it  into  the  light- 
ness of  the  skies,  and  decorate  it  with  the  colors  of  the 
clouds.  Come,  Osseo,  my  son,  and  dwell  no  longer  on 
earth.  Think  strongly  on  my  words,  and  look  steadfastly  at 
my  beams.  My  power  is  now  at  its  height.  Doubt  not — 
delay  not.  It  is  the  voice  of  the  Spirit  of  the  stars  that 
calls  you  away  to  happiness  and  celestial  rest." 

The  words  were  intelligible  to  Osseo,  but  his  companions 
thought  them  soine  far-off  sounds  of  music,  or  birds  singing 
in  the  woods.  Very  soon  the  lodge  began  to  shake  and 
tremble,  and  they  felt  it  rising  into  the  air.  It  was  too  late 
to  run  out,  they  were  already  as  hifijh  as  the  tops  of  the 
trees.  Osseo  looked  around  as  the  lodge  passed  through 
the  topmost  boughs,  and  behold !  their  wooden  dishes  were 
oh&iigcd  into  shells  of  a  scarlet  color,  the  poles  of  the  lodge 


i^■'^ 


h  i 


i 

i  1 


74 


ANNALS   OF    FOKT   MAOKINAO. 


to  glittering  wires  of  silver,  and  the  bark  that  covered  thoni 
into  the  gorgeous  wings  of  insects.  A  moment  more,  and 
his  brothers  and  sisters,  and  their  parents  and  friends,  were 
transformed  into  birds  of  various  plumiige.  Some  were 
jays,  some  partridges  and  pigeons,  and  others  gay  singing 
birds,  who  hopped  about,  displaying  their  glittering  feathers, 
and  singing  tiioir  song.  But  Oweenee  still  kept  her  earthly 
garb,  and  exhibited  all  the  indications  of  extreme  age.  He 
again  cast  his  eyes  in  the  direction  of  the  clouds,  and 
uttered  that  peculiar  yell,  which  had  given  him  the  victory 
at  the  hollow  log.  In  a  moment  the  youch  and  beauty  of 
his  wife  returned  ;  her  dingy  garments  assumed  the  shining 
appearance  of  green  silk,  and  her  cane  was  changed  into  a 
silver  feather.  The  lodge  again  shook  and  trembled,  for 
they  were  now  passing  tiiro  i  the  uppermost  clouds,  and 
they  immediately  after  found  themselves  in  the  Evening 
Star,  the  residence  of  Osseo's  father. 

"  My  son,"  said  the  old  man,  "  hang  t'mt  cage  of  birds, 
which  you  have  brought  along  in  your  hand,  at  the  door, 
and  I  will  inform  you  why  you  and  your  wife  have  been 
sent  for."  Osseo  obeyed  the  directions ;  and  then  took  his 
seat  in  the  lodge.  "  Pity  was  shown  to  you,"  resumed  the 
king  of  the  star,  "on  account  of  the  contempt  of  your 
wife's  8istei*s,  who  laughed  at  her  ill  fortune,  and  ridiculed 
you  while  you  were  under  the  power  of  that  wicked  spirit, 
whom  you  overcame  at  the  log.  That  spirit  lives  in  the 
next  lodge,  being  a  small  star  you  see  on  the  left  of  mine, 
and  he  has  always  felt  envious  of  my  family,  because  we 
had  greater  power  tha!i  he  had,  and  especially  on  account 
of  our  having  had  the  care  committed  to  us  of  the  female 
world.  He  failed  in  several  attempts  to  destroy  your 
brothei'S-in-law  and  sisters-in-law,  but  succeeded  at  last  in 
transforming  yourself  and  your  wife  into  decrepit  old  per- 
sons.   Ton  must  be  careful  and  not  lei  the  light  of  hia 


I 


LEGEND   OF    MACKINAC    ISLAND. 


75. 


36  we 
count 
iinale 


per- 
his 


beainB  fall  on  you  while  yon  are  hero,  for  therein  is  the 
power  of  his  enchantment;  a  ray  of  light  is  tiie  '.>ow  and 
arrow  he  uses." 

Oss'io  lived  hnppy  and  contented  in  the  parental  lodge, 
and  in  due  time  his  wife  presented  him  with  a  son,  who 
grew  up  rapidly,  and  waa  the  image  of  his  father.  lie  was 
very  quick  and  ready  in  learning  everything  that  was  done 
in  his  grandfather's  dominions,  but  he  wished  also  to  learn 
the  art  of  hunting,  for  he  had  heard  this  was  a  favorite 
pursuit  below.  To  gratify  him,  his  father  made  him  a  bow 
and  arrows,  and  he  then  let  the  birds  out  of  tiio  cage  that 
he  might  practise  in  shooting.  lie  soon  became  an  expert, 
and  the  very  first  day  brought  down  a  bird,  but  when  he 
went  to  pick  it  up,  to  his  amazement,  it  was  a  beautiful 
young  woman  with  the  airow  sticking  in  her  breast.  It 
was  one  of  his  aunts.  The  moment  her  blood  fell  upon 
the  surface  of  that  pure  and  spotless  planet,  the  charm  was 
dissolved.  The  boy  immediately  found  himself  sinking,  but 
was  partly  upheld,  by  something  like  wiiigt^,  till  he  passed 
through  the  lower  clouds,  and  he  then  suddenly  dropped 
upon  a  high,  romantic  island.  He  was  pleased  on  look- 
ip'y  up  to  see  all   his  aunts  and  uncles   following  him   in 

3  form  of  birds,  and  he  soon  discovered  the  silver  lodge, 
,/ith  his  father  and  mother,  descending  with  its  waving 
barks  looking  like  so  many  insects'  gilded  wings.  It  rested 
on  the  highest  cliffs  of  the  island,  and  here  tiiey  fixed  their 
residence.  They  all  resumed  their  natural  shapes,  but  were 
diminished  to  the  size  of  fairies ;  as  a  mark  of  homage  to 
the  King  of  the  Evening  Star,  they  never  fail,  on  every 
pleasant  evening  during  the  summer  season,  to  join  hands 
and  dance  upon  the  top  of  the  rocks.  These  rocks  were 
quickly  observed  by  the  Indians  to  be  covered,  in  moonlight 
evenings,  with  a  larger  sort  of  Puk  Wudj  Ininees,  or  little 
men,  and   were  called    Mmli-in-e-molc-in-ok-ong,   or  turtU 


I 


II 


7« 


ANNALS   OF   FORT   MACKINAC. 


spirits^  wlionoc  tlic  iplaiid  dcrivcB  is  name.  Tlieir  shining 
lodge  c.  '  be  seen  in  the  summer  evenings  when  the  moon 
sliines  strongly  on  the  pinnacles  of  the  rocks,  and  tliose  who 
go  near  those  high  cliffs  at  night  can  hear  the  voices  of  the 
liapp}'  little  dancers. 


THE  GIANT  FAIRIES. 


Long  yoara  before  the  wliiU)  man  catiiu  into  these  regions, 
many  fairies  lived  here,  rollicking  fairies,  who  laughed  and 
danced  and  sung  their  lives  away. 

Every  tiower  and  bush  and  tree,  every  rock  and  hill  and 
glen,  was  thickly  peopled  with  these  canny  folk,  and  on 
moonlight  niglits  all  the  Indians  in  their  wigwams  sat  in 
breathless  attention — 

Then  they  boar,  now  sweet  and  low, 

Sounds  as  of  a  distant  lyre, 

Touched  by  fairy  hands  so  light 

That  the  trembling  tones  scarce  are  heard. 

What  the  music  none  can  tell, 
So  unearthly  and  so  pure, — 
But  it  seems  as  if  the  notes 
Loosened  all  the  magic  sounds 
Held  within  the  tinkling  grass,— 
In  the  mosses  and  the  ferns. 
In  the  vines  which  climb  and  creep, 
In  the  flowers  of  every  hue. — 
In  the  heavy-folded  rose, 
In  the  violets  at  its  feet. 
In  the  lily's  gentle  swing. 

Sweeping  o'er  the  lonely  streams, 
Through  the  sands  on  deserts  low, 
Through  the  snows  on  mountains  high, 
Through  the  flowers  on  the  plains. 
Through  the  sylvan  shady  bowers, 
Through  the  forests  dark  and  hoar, 
Through  the  lofty  oaks  and  elms, 

[77J 


f'l 


18 


ANNALS   OF   FOBT   HAOKli.'iAO. 

Through  the  leaves  of  tulip  trees, 
Through  catalpas,  white  wiih  bloom, 
Through  raivgnolias  kingly  crowned, 
Through  the  poplars,  amber  sweet, 
Through  the  towering  cypresses, 
Pendant  with  the  gray  old  mosses, 
Patriarchs  of  the  lowlier  tribes. 
With  the  sound  of  laughing  brooks, 
And  the  notes  of  singing  birds  ; 
Softened  by  the  cooing  dove. 
By  the  plover's  gentle  dip, 
By  the  lonely,  limpid  rills, 
By  the  silence,  deep,  profound, 
Restinor  o'er  the  wilderness. 

With  the  thunder's  distant  roar. 
Rolling,  rumbling  through  the  sky. 
Over  iiiountains,  hilLs,  and  plains. 
Over  rivers,  lakes,  and  seas; 
Chiming  with  the  ovferture 
III  its  massive  undertones, 
Mellowing,  melting  all  its  chords 
Into  dulcet  harmonies; 
I:  to  dirge-like  requiems; 
Into  rhythmic  symphonies; 
Gathering  all  the  breath  of  song 
In  its  weird  and  wayward  moods; 
In  its  plaintive,  touching  strains; 
In  its  playful  laughing  trills; 
In  its  wild  and  fearful  tones; 
Trancing  all  the  insect  tribes. 
Hid  in  thicket,  bush,  and  grove;— 
Butterflies,  of  every  hue. 
Bees,  of  wondrous  skill  and  lore; 
Beetles,  puzzled,  lost,  and  wild; 
Mites  and  emmets,  flies  and  gnats, 
Madden».d,  ravished,  filled  with  JQJP,— 
Frenzied  with  the  flush  of  song. 


^  7K 


THE   OIAMT    FAIKIK8. 


79 


Birds,  in  forest,  tree,  and  copse, 
In  the  jungle,  in  the  grass, 
Near  the  lonely  stream  and  lake, 
On  the  wing  in  winding  flocks, 
Wilderad  with  the  rapturous  sounds, 
Pause  to  listen,  still  and  mute, 
Till  the  tempest  rushes  past, — 

O,  the  music !  O,  the  sweet ! 
Breathing  fragrance,  breathing  song, 
Mingling  all  of  earth  and  air 
That  'dn  charm  the  wakened  sense. 
Thus  with  odors  rich  and  rare. 
Music  lent  its  magic  power, 
Dirge  and  requiem,  ditty,  lay. 
Fugue  and  march,  and  waltz  and  hymn 
Silver-toned,  euphonious,  grave; 
Cliimes  of  measured  step  and  grace, 
Dulcet  strains  of  sweetest  rhythm, 
Overtures  of  matchless  sweep, — 
All  that  lills  the  hungry  air. 
All  that  wakes  the  sleeping  sense, 
Blending  with  the  virgin  soil; 
With  the  creeping  juniper. 
With  the  cedar  and  the  pine. 
With  the  rich  magnolia's  bloom, 
With  the  jasmine  and  the  grape, 
With  the  scent  of  early  fruits; — 
Such  the  music,  such  the  air, 
Sweeping  westward  o'er  the  lakes, 
Suchy — the  Isle  of  Mackinac. 


It  was  upon  the  eastern  rock-bound  sliore  that  the 
giant  fairies  most  loved  to  congregate.  There  they  skipped 
up  and  down  their  famous  stairway,  and,  flinging  themselves 
into  the  water,  would  disappear  in  its  depths,  perhaps  to  rise 
again  on  the  back  of  some  immense  sturgeon  or  whitefish, 
the  reindeer  of  the  lakes,  for  a  race  through,  the  sparkling 
water. 


l\ 


ANNALS    OF    F4»RT   MACKINAC. 


These  genii  lived  in  the  many  caves  in  the  rocks.  In  the 
depths  of  their  quiet  liomes  were — 

Tables,  crowned  with  daintiest  food, 
Wine  of  berries,  rich  and  sweet ;        . 
Bods  of  eider-down  and  moss; 
CI  I  ambers,  opening  to  the  sea, 
Fii'.od  witli  sparkling  stalactites  ; 
RiiUies  bright,  and  amethysts, 
Diamonds  flashing,  filled  with  light; 
Marble  halls  and  palaces  ; 
Corridors,  of  awful  length. 
Stretching  westward  toward  the  sun, 
Opening  into  distant  halls, 
Wildering  to  the  ac'hing  sight. 
Wide  the  pavements  covered  o'er 
With  the  shells  of  every  liuc  ; 
Lichens  green,  and  red,  and  white. 
Spreading  wider,  flush  and  fair, 
Sprinkled  with  the  aureate  dust 
Found  within  their  hidden  caves. 

Their  favorite  dancing  place  was  the  plateau  just  below 
where  the  fort  now  stands,  and  the  entrance  to  their  subter- 
ranean abode  was  under  the  immense  rock  that  supports  one 
of  the  corners  of  the  wall. 

Here  their  mystic  ring  was  kept,  and  on  moonlight  nights 
they  gathered  from  far  and  near — 

At  twilig''t  on  the  lonely  Isle, 
'Mid  the  rustling  of  the  leaves, 
And  the  chiip  or  dainty  birds. 
And  the  notes  of  whip-poor-wills, — 
Oft  was  heard  the  mystic  dance 
Of  Giant  Fairies,  lithe  of  step,  , 

Moving  in  their  sinuous  sweep 
•        To  the  sounds  of  lute  anr,  string.  ■  ,       . 

Now,  where  the  rippling  vaters  play,  ]  - 

Or  on  the  billow's  gentle  swell, 
Laughing,  rollicking  and  free. 


THE    GIANT    FAIRIES. 


81 


the 


below 
lUbter- 
ilB  one 

liglits 


Or  clambering  Donan's  Obelisk, 
Witli  towering  leap  and  sportive  romp, 
With  heyday  pranks,  and  leer,  and  jest, 
They  reel,  and  minuet,  and  waltz, 
In  wassail  mirth  and  jollity. 
Upon  Ledyard's  lofty  Cliffs  they  perch. 
In  graceful  curves  they  reach  the  Arcu 
That  hangs  upon  the  eastern  shore, — 
Now  gently  tripping  round  its  base, 
They  climb  upon  its  rugged  sides. 
And  sweeping  o'er  its  dizzy  height, 
With  rapid  flight  and  easy  grace. 
They  move  around  the  Pyramid, 
And  peep  within  its  secret  caves. 
Or  stand  upon  its  star-lit  shaft; — 
And  then,  away,  away,  away. 
They  sweep  arourd  the  grand  plateau 
That  sits  enthroned  upon  the  Isle; — 
Within  Skull  Cave  they  barely  peep, 
RuGGLEs'  Pillar,  they  lightly  touch, 
To  Whitney's  Point,  they  hie  away, 
Thence,  the  Lover's  Leap  they  clinib. 

Here  the  tramping  feet  were  heard 
Of  the  Pe-quod-e-nonge  dance. 
When  the  gathering  warriors  came 
Plumed  and  painted  for  the  fight; — 
And  the  startling  yell  was  heard 
O'er  the  Island — o'er  the  straits, 
O'er  the  waters,  deep  and  clear, 
O'er  the  Huron  and  its  shores, 
O'er  the  breezy  Michigan; 


Suddenly  La  Salle's  morning  gun  from  tlie  "  Griffon"  ratig 
out  on  the  breeze  and  echoed  and  reechoed  with  many  re- 
verberations from  the  adjacent  shores. 

With  horrible  shrieks  and  cries  and  groans  they  flew  from 
all  parts  of  the  island,  and  entering  their  cave  disappeared 
evermore  from  mortal  view. 


4 


82 


ANNALS    OF    FORT   MACKINAC. 


f  'i 


Reluctantly  they  left  the  Isle 
When  the  **  pale  faces  "  touched  upon 
Their  native  waters,  rocks,  and  hills; — 
For  only  will  they  deign  to  dwell 
Where  the  wild  hunter  seeks  his  food 
And  claims  the  forest  all  his  own. 

I  sing  of  the  fairies  fled, 

I  know  not  where  they  are, 
Whether  living,  dying,  or  dead, 

On  the  earth,  or  some  distant  star. 
In  the  hollow  wastes,  or  the  vacant  caves, 

In  the  shadowy,  dreamless  land. 
Where  the  river  of  Leth6  gently  laves 

Its  footless  and  dusky  sand,— 
Far,  far  away  is  the  spectral  band. 

Over  the  silent  moor. 

Over  the  secret  dell, 
Over  the  waters  fresh  and  pure 

With  music's  magic  spell, 
Hither  and  thither  they  went. 

Now  rapid,  or  grave,  or  slow- 
Till  the  drowsy  hours  were  spe, 

And  the  morning  began  to  giuvv. 
But  we  see  them  now  no  more, 

We  hear  them  not  at  even. 
By  river,  or  lake,  or  lonely  shore, 

Beneath  the  western  heaven. 


And  thus  have  the  fairies  left  our  shore. 
Their  beautiful  forms  we  shall  see  no  more; 
The  caves  are  forsaken,  the  mountain  and  plain, 
Oar  Island  home  shall  greet  them — never  again« 


LECHSND   OF   MISHINI-MAKINAO. 


LEGEND  OF  "MISHINI-MAKINAK," 


Note  : — There  is  a  tradition  that  many  centuries  ago  while 
a  party  of  Indians  were  standing  on  the  bluff  where  St. 
Ignace  is  now  located,  and  looking  out  over  the  straits 
they  saw  the  present  Island  of  Mackinac  rising  out  of  the 
water,  and  beliving  it  waa  some  animal,  from  its  movements 
and  shape  they  pronounced  it  to  be  a  turtle. 

The  Island  was  known  to  the  early  French  visitors  as 
"Michilimackinac:"  popular  tradition  says  that  the  meaning 
of  the  word  is  "  Giant  Turtle." 

In  the  Ojibwa  dialect  &&  now  spoken,  "  Mishimikinak  ' 
signifies  "  Big  Turtle." 

Edisokcd. — A  story  teller;  one  who  repeats  and  hands 
down  the  tales  of  Mena-bosho  and  other  kindred  Jegendary 
lore. 

Eh  heh  I  Eh  heh  I — is  the  usual  refrain  of  Indian  magic 
songs. 


si'" 


'.■\ 


Where  the  restless  currents  of  Michigan 
The  twin-born  Huron  embrace, 

Along  the  headland  there  sat  a  clan 
Of  the  wild  Ojibwa  race. 

In  the  noontide  calm,  on  the  sleepy  shore. 
Reposed  the  lords  of  the  land, 

While  the  story-teller's  mystic  lore 
Beguiled  the  simple  band. 


Thus  spake  *^'^  prattling  Edisoked;— 
"A  wigwam  stands  in  the  deep; 

Enchanted  lies  in  the  channel's  bed 
The  Giant  Turtle  asleep. 


Si 


ANNALS   OF   FORT    MAOKINAO. 

Around  him  paddle  whltefish  and  trout, 

The  slow  worm  creepinjij  goes; 
The  sea-gull's  scream  and  the  rover's  shout 

Break  not  his  charmed  repose. 

Rise  up,  rise  up,   O  Turtle  grey; 

Rise  up,  thou  chief  of  the  lake, 
Tliy  cousins  call  thee, — eh  heh!  eh  hehl 

Enchanted  Tuktlk,  awako!" 

The  lake  lay  calm  and  the  wind  was  hush*d, 

But  lo!  there  rose  a  swell; 
The  surges  over  the  pebbles  rushed— 

The  song  had  broken  the  spell. 

It  heaves;  it  eddies.     Alack!  Alack! 

The  breakers  tower  and  fall; 
Unwieldy  Misiiini-makinak 

Toils  up  to  answer  the  call. 

Already  whitens  the  flood  mid-way 
Twixt  shore  and  shore.     On  the  strand, 

Along  the  headland,  in  blank  dismay 
The  brown  Ojibwa  stand. 

And  slowly,  softly  the  rounded  back 
Emerging  meets  the  eye, 

Till  all  of  MiSHINl-MAKINAK 

Lies  basking  'neath  the  sky. 

He  floats,  a  mammoth  in  turtle  shape. 

An  overturned  bowl,  the  back; 
The  dragging  tail  a  fleshy  cape, 

The  jowl  a  headland  black. 

The  mighty  shell  like  an  island  lies, 

At  anchor  out  in  the  lake. 
*2\s  not  an  isle.     O  strange  surprise! 
'Tis  the  Chief  uncharmed,  awake! 

Unmoved,  alike,  by  the  billow's  sweep, 
By  the  tempest's  battering  shock. 

Severe  and  calm  in  the  azure  deep. 
He  stands  a  towering  rock. 


> 


LEGEND   OF   MISIIINT  M AKINAK. 


85 


But  alert  within  that  frowning  form  . 

The  spirit  blithe  and  gay, 
With  fairy  sprites,  that  Voiind  him  swarm, 

Communes  by  night  and  day. 

The  dappled  trout  and  the  whitefish  coma 

Up-lake,  down  over  the  Falls; 
His  children  all  from  their  silent  home 

To  the  gay  carouse  he  calls. 

The  Red  Man — eager  yet  doubtful,  while 

The  silver  tide  runs  past, 
Enticed,  bewitched,  to  the  magic  isle 

His  birch  bark  paddles  at  last. 

And  one  there  comes  in  robe  of  black, 

With  face  so  sweet  and  grave, 
That  frowning  Mishini-makinak 

Smiles  on  him  from  the  wave. 

With  toilworn  feet,  a  pilgrim  quaint, 

The  holy  cross  in  his  hand 
From  la  belle  France  he  comes,  good  saint, 

To  sleep  on  the  pebbly  strand. 

And  over  the  waves  as  the  chief  grows  old, 

In  storm  or  sunshine  gay. 
The  Lily,  Lion  and  Eagle  bold 

Their  homage  come  to  pay. 

On  hoary  Mishini-makinak 

Their  several  flags  unfurl, 
While  wrestling,  each  from  the  giant's  back 

The  other  seeks  to  hurl. 

Oh!  sure  is  the  flight  to  the  mother  bee 
Of  the  humming  swarms  of  the  hive; 

But  surer,  swifter,  from  land  and  sea. 
The  Chieftain's  vassals  arrive. 

From  prairies  far  and  their  burning  heat. 

From  Hudson's  shivering  bay; 
From  the  western  peaks,  at  the  Giant's  feet 

They  flock  their  wealth  to  lay. 


'«! 


t  ■ 


86 


ANNALS   OF   FOBT   MACKINAC. 

The  skiff,  the  light  canoe,  the  smack, 
The  merchant's  ship  in  their  wake, 

All  hound  for  Mishini-makinak 
Are  plowing  river  and  lake. 

Bright,  broken  dream!  It  calls  not  back 

That  gay  chivalriotime: — 
Wilt  thou  still  honor  old  Makinak, 

Age  of  the  dollar  and  dime  ? 

Behold  the  answer!  Do  not  these  things 

Arabian  marvels  eclipse? 
On  comes — on  comes, — as  on  eagle's  wings, 

A  fleet  of  wingless  ships  I 

With  panting  bosom, — with  splashing  gait, 

With  dull  monotonous  roar, 
They  come, —  their  frolicsome  human  freight 

In  the  Sorcerer's  lap  to  pour. 

There  all,  in  sweet  oblivion  lost, 

(The  touch  of  witchery's  wand)- 
Their  ailments  offer  a  holocaust 

At  Giant  Turtle's  command. 


!ll 


ANNALS    OF    FORT    MACKINAC. 


•f 


Shingebiss 


There  was  once  a  Shingebiss,  the  name  of  the  fall  duck, 
living  alone  in  a  solitary  lodge  on  Mackinac  Island  in  the 
coldest  winter  weather.  The  ice  had  formed  on  the  water, 
and  he  had  but  four  logs  of  wood  to  keep  his  fire.  Each  of 
these  would,  however,  burn  a  moi)*h,  and  as  there  were  l)ut 
four  cold  winter  months,  they  were  sufficient  to  carry  him 
through  till  spring. 

Shingebiss  was  hardy  and  fearless,  and  cared  for  no  one. 
lie  would  go  out  during  the  coldest  day,  and  seek  for  places 
where  flags  and  rushes  grew  through  the  ice,  and  plucking 
them  up  with  his  bill,  would  dive  through  the  openings,  in 
quest  of  fish.  In  this  way  he  found  plenty  of  food,  while 
others  were  starving,  and  he  went  home  daily  to  his  lodge, 
dragging  strings  of  iisii  after  him,  over  the  ice, 

Kabibonokka*  observed  him,  and  felt  a  little  piqued  at  his 
perseverance  and  good  luck  in  defiance  of  the  severest  blasts 
of  wind  he  could  send  from  the  r»orl;hwest.  "  Why  !  this  is  a 
wonderful  man,"  said  ho ;  "  he  does  not  mind  the  cold,  and  ap- 
pears as  happy  and  contented  as  if  it  were  the  month  of  June. 
1  will  try  whether  he  cannot  be  mastered."  He  pou.red  forth 
tenfold  colder  blasts,  and  drifts  of  snow,  so  that  it  was  next 
to  impossible  to  live  in  the  open  air.  Still,  the  fire  of  Shinge- 
biss did  not  go  out:  he  wore  but  a  single  strip  of  leather 
around  his  body,  and  he  was  seen,  in  the  worst  weather, 
searching  the  shores  for  rushes,  and  currying  home  fish. 

"I  shall  go  and  visit  him," said  Kabibonokka,  one  day,  as 

*  A  person ifl cat! on  of  the  northwind. 


I 


88 


ANNALS    OF    FORT    MACKINAC. 


he  saw  Shingcbiss  drag<:;in^  along  u  (juantity  of  fish.  And, 
accordingly,  that  very  night,  he  went  to  the  door  of  his  lodge. 
Meantime  Shingebiss  had  cooked  his  fish,  and  finished  his 
meal,  and  was  lying,  partly  on  his  side,  before  tho  fire,  singing 
his  songs.  After  Kabibonokka  had  come  to  the  door,  and 
fitood  listening  there,  he  sang  as  follows  :- 

Windy  god,  I  know  your  plan, 
You  are  but  my  fellow  man; 
Blow  you  may  your  coldest  breeze, 
Shingebiss  you  cannot  freeze, 
Sweep  the  strongest  wind  you  can, 
Shingebiss  is  still  your  nmn  ; 
Heigh!  for  life— and  hoi  for  l)lis9, 
Who  so  free  as  Shingebiss  ? 

The  hunter  knew  that  Kabibonokka  was  at  his  door,  for 
he  felt  his  cold  breath  ;  but  he  kept  on  singing  his  songs,  and 
afifected  utter  indifference.  At  length  Kabibonokka  entered, 
and  took  a  scat  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  lodge.  Shingebiss 
did  not  notice  him,  but  got  up  as  if  nobody  were  present, 
pushed  the  log,  which  made  his  fire  burn  brighter,  repeating, 
as  he  sat  down  again  : — 

You  are  but  my  fellow- man.     .. 

Very  soon  the  tears  began  to  flow  down  Kabibonokka's 
cheeks  so  fast,  that,  presently,  he  said  to  himself:  "1  can- 
not stand  this — I  must  go  out ;  he  must  be  aided  by  some 
Manitou,  I  can  neither  freeze  him  nor  starve  him — he  is  a 
very  singular  being — I  will  let  him  alone." 


ANNALS    UK    FOKT    MACKINAC. 


89 


The  Celestial  Sisters 


»gi 


:a  8 
;an- 
)me 

lis  a 


Waiipcc,  or  tlie  White  i  wk,  lived  in  a  remote  |»art  of  tlio 
forest,  iviiere  animals  and  buds  were  abundant.  Every  day 
lie  returned  from  tli<;  chase  with  the  reward  of  his  toil,  for 
he  was  one  of  the  most  skilful  and  celebrut.  1  hunters  of  liis 
tril>e.  With  a  tall,  manly  form,  an<l  the  fire  of  youth  beam- 
ing from  his  eye,  there  was  no  forest  too  gloomy  for  him  to 
penetrate,  and  no  track  made  by  the  numerous  kinds  of  birds 
and  beasts  wliich  he  could  not  follow. 

One  day  he  penetrated  beyond  any  point  which  he  had  be- 
fore visited.  He  travelled  through  an  open  forest,  which 
enabled  him  to  see  a  ijreat  distance.  At  length  he  beheld  a 
light  breaking  througli  the  foliage,  which  made  him  sure 
that  he  was  on  tiie  borders  of  a  prairie.  It  was  a  wide  plain 
covered  with  grass  and  flowers.  Alter  walking  some  time 
without  ;t  path,  he  suddenly  came  to  a  ring  worn  through  the 
sod,  as  if  it  had  been  made  by  footsteps  following  a  circle. 
But  what  excited  his  surprise  was,  that  there  was  no  path 
leading  to  or  from  it.  Not  the  least  trace  of  footsteps  could 
be  found,  even  in  a  crushed  leaf  or  broken  twig.  He  thought 
he  would  hide  himr.elf,  and  lie  in  wait  to  see  what  this  circle 
meant.  Presently  he  heard  the  faint  sounds  of  music  in  the 
air.  He  looked  up  in  the  direction  they  came  from,  and  saw 
a  small  object  descending  from  above.  At  first  it  looked  like 
a  mere  speck,  but  rapidly  increased,' and,  as  it  came  down,  the 
music  became  plainer  and  sweeter.  It  assumed  the  form  of 
a  basket,  and  was  filled  with  twelve  sisters  of  the  most  lovely 
forms  and  enchanting  beauty.     As  soon  as  the  basket  touched 


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Hiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  873-4503 


A 


90 


ANNALS    OF   FORT    MACKINAC. 


the  ground,  they  leaped  out,  and  began  to  dance  round  the 
magic  ring,  striking,  as  the}'  did  so  a  shining  ball  as  we  strike 
the  drum.  Wan  pee  gazed  upon  their  graceful  forms  and  mo- 
tions from  his  place  of  concealment.  He  admired  them  all, 
but  was  most  pleased  with  the  youngest.  Unable  longer  to 
restrain  his  admiration,  he  rushed  out  and  endeavored  to 
seize  her.  But  the 'sisters,  with  the  quickness  of  birds,  the 
moment  they  descried  the  form  of  a  man,  leaped  back  into 
the  basket  and  were  drawn  up  into  the  sky. 

Regretting  his  ill  luck  an'l  indiscretion,  he  gazed  till  he 
saw  them  disappear,  and  then  said,  "  They  are  gone,  and  I 
shall  see  them  no  more."'  He  returned  to  his  solitary  lodge, 
but  found  no  relief  to  his  mind.  Next  day  he  went  back  to 
the  prairie,  and  took  his  station  near  the  ring ;  but  in  order 
to  deceive  the  sisters,  he  assumed  the  form  of  an  opossum. 
He  had  not  waited  long,  when  he  saw  the  wicker  car  descend, 
and  heard  the  same  sweet  music.  They  commenced  the 
same  sportive  dance,  and  seemed  even  more  beautiful  and 
graceful  than  before.  He  crept  slowly  towards  the  ring,  but 
the  instant  the  sisters  saw  him  they  were  startled,  and  sprang 
into  their  car.  It  rose  but  a  short  distance,  when  one  of  the 
elder  sisters  spoke.  "  Perhaps,"  said  she,  "  it  is  come  to  show 
us  how' the  game  is  played  by  mortals."  "Oh,  no!  "the 
youngest  replied;  "quick,  let  us  ascend."  And  all  joining 
in  a  chant,  they  rose  out  of  sight. 

Waupee  returned  to  his  own  form  again,  and  walked  sor- 
rowfully back  to  his  lodge.  But  the  night  seeined  a  very 
long  one,  and  he  went  back  betimes  the  next  day.  He  re- 
flected upon  the  sort  of  plan  to  follow  to  secure  success.  He 
found  an  old  stump  near  by,  in  which  there  were  a  number 
of  mice.  He  thought  their  small  form  would  not  create 
alarm,  and  accordingly  assuiued  it.  He  brought  the  stump 
and  sat  it  up  near  the  ring.  TI13  sisters  came  down  and  re- 
sumed their  sport.     "But  see,"  cried  the  younger  sister, 


,tM,mAsslU,,i3t!Sf^^ll^^lKHI^ 


ANNALS   OF   FORT   MACKINAC. 


01 


•r* 


"  that  stump  was  not  there  before."  She  ran  affriglited 
towards  the  car.  They  only  smiled  and  gathering  around  the 
stump,  struck  it  in  jest, 'when  out  ran  the  mice,  Waupee 
among  the  rest.  They  killed  them  all  but  one,  which  was 
pursued  by  the  youngest  sister ;  but  just  as  she  had  raised 
her  stick  to  kill  it,  the  form  of  AVaupee  arose,  and  he  clasped 
his  prize  in  his  arms.  The  other  eleven  sprang  to  their  bas- 
ket and  wore  drawn  up  to  the. skies. 

He  exerted  all  his  skill  to  please  his  bride  and  win  her  af- 
fections. He  wiped  the  tears  from  her  eyes.  He  related 
his  adventures  in  the  chase.  He  dwelt  upon  the  charms  of  life 
on  the  earth.  He  was  incessant  in  his  attentions,  and  picked 
out  the  way  for  her  to  walk  as  he  led  her  gently  towards  his 
lodge.  He  felt  his  heart  glow  with  joy  as  she  entered  it,  and 
from  that  moment  he  was  one  of  the  happiest  of  men.  Winter 
and  summer  parsed  rapidly  away,  and  their  happiness  was  in- 
creased by  the  addition  of  a  beautiful  boy  to  their  lodge. 
She  wac  a  danojhter  of  one  of  the  stars,  and  as  the  scenes 
of  earth  began  to  pall  her  sight,  she  sighed  to  revisit  her 
father.  But  she  was  obliged  to  hide  these  feelings  from  her 
husband.  She  remembered  the  charm  that  would  carry  her 
up,  and  took  occasion,  while  Waupee  vv'as  engaged  in  the 
chaso,  to  construct  a  wicker  basket,  which  she  kept  concealed. 
J*  .ae  mean  time  she  collected  such  rarities  from  the  earth 
as  she  thought  would  please  her  father,  as  well  as  the  most 
dainty  kinds  of  food.  When  all  was  in  readiness,  she  went 
out  one  day,  while  Waupee  was  abEcnt,  to  the  charmed  ring, 
taking  her  little  son  with  her.  As  soon  as  they  got  into  the 
car  she  commenced  her  song  and  the  basket  rose.  As  the 
song  was  wafted  by  the  wind,  it  caught  her  husband's  ear. 
It  was  a  voice  which  ho  well  knew,  and  he  instantly  ran  to 
the  prairie.  But  he  could  not  reach  the  ring  before  he  saw 
his  wife  and  child  ascend.  He  lifted  up  his  voice  in  loud  ap- 
peals, but  they  were  unavailing.     The  basket  still  went  up. 


92 


ANNALS    OF    F0I4T    MACKINAC. 


r  <i 


He  watclied  it  till  it  btjcame  a  small  speck,  and  finally  it  van- 
ished in  the  sky.  He  then  bent  his  head  down  to  the  ground, 
and  was  miserable. 

Waupee  bewailed  his  loss  through  a  long  winter  and  a  long 
summer.  But  he  found  no  relief.  He  mourned  his  wife's 
loss  sorely,  but  hi^  son's  still  more.  In  the  meantime  his 
wife  had  reached  her  home  in  the  stars,  and  almost  forgot,  in 
the  blissful  employments  there,  that  she  had  left  a  husband 
on  the  earth.  She  was  reminded  of  this  by  the  presence  of 
her  son,  who,  as  he  grew  up,  became  anxious  to  visit  the 
scene  of  his  birth.  His  grandfather  said  to  his  daughter  one 
day,  "Go,  my  child,  and  take  your  son  down  to  his  father, 
and  ask  him  to  come  up  and  live  with  us.  But  tell  him  to 
bring  along  a  specimen  of  each  kind  of  bird  and  animal  he 
kills  in  the  chase."  She  accordingly  t  ok  the  boy  and  des- 
cended. Waupee,  who  was  ever  near  the  enchanted  spot, 
heard  her  voice  as  she  came  down  the  sky.  His  heart  beat 
with  impatience  as  he  saw  her  form  and  that  of  hi^.  son,  and 
they  were  soon  clasped  in  Iiis  arms. 

He  heard  the  message  of  the  Star,  and  began  to  hunt  with 
the  greatest  activity,  that  he  might  collect  the  present.  He 
spent  whole  nights,  as  well  as  days,  in  searching  for  every 
curious  and  beautiful  bird  or  animal.  He  only  preserved  a 
tail,  foot  or  wing  of  each,  to  identify  the  species;  and,  when 
r11  was  ready,  they  went  to  the  circle  and  were  carried  up. 

Great  joy  was  manifested  on  their  arrival  at  the  starry 
plains.  The  Star  Chief  invited  all  his  people  to  a  feast,  and, 
when  they  had  assembled,  he  proclaimed  aloud  that  each  one 
might  take  of  the  earthly  gifts  such  as  he  liked  best.  A  very 
strange  confusion  immediately  arose.  Some  chose  a  foot, 
some  a  wing,  some  a  tail,  and  some  a  claw.  Those  who 
selected  tails  or  claws  were  changed  into  animals,  and  ran  ofE ; 
the  others  assumed  the  form  of  birds,  and  flew  away.  Waa- 
pee  chose  a  white  hawk's  feather.    His  wife  and  son  followed 


^.*-f»mm'0^i-^-^^0»mt9^.  " 


ANNALB    OF    FORT   MACKINAC. 


93 


his  example,  when  each  one  became  a  white  hawk.  Pleased 
with  his  transformation  and  new  vitality,  the  chief  spread  out 
gracefully  his  white  wings,  and  followed  by  his  wife  and  son, 
descended  to  the  earth. 


•• 


jj 


u 


ANNALS    OF    FOUT   MACKINAC. 


The  Summer-Maker. 


Tlierc  f on norly* lived  a  celebrated  hunter  on  the  north- 
ern shore  of  Mackinac  Island,  who  was  a  very  powerful 
Manitou,  for  there  was  nothing  but  what  he  could  accom- 
plish. He  lived  in  a  wild,  lonesome  place,  with  a  wife 
whom  he  loved,  and  they  were  blessed  with  a  son  v.'ho  had 
attained  his  thirteenth  year.  The  hunter's  name  was  Ojeeg, 
or  the  Fisher,  which  is  the  name  of  an  expert,  sprightly  little 
animal^  common  to  the  region.  He  was  so  successful  in  the 
chase  that  he  seldom  returned  without  bringing  his  wife  and 
eon  a  plentiful  supply  of  venison,  or  other  dainties  of  the 
woods.  As  hunting  formed  his  constant  occupation,  his  son 
began  early  to  emulate  his  father  in  the  same  employment, 
and  would  take  his  bow  and  arrows,  and  exert  his  skill  in  try- 
ing to  kill  birds  and  squirrels.  The  greatest  impediment  he 
met  with,  was  the  coldness  and  severity  of  the  climate.  He 
often  returned  home,  his  little  fingers  benumbed  with  cold 
and  crying  with  vexation  at  his  disappointment.  Months 
and  years  passed  away,  but  still  the  same  perpetual  depth 
of  snow  was  seen,  covering  all  the  country  with  a  white 
cloak. 

One  day,  after  a  fruitless  trial  of  his  forest  skill,  the  little 
boy  was  returning  homeward  with  a  heavy  heart,  when  he 
saw  a  small  red  squirrel  gnawing  the  top  of  a  pine  bur. 
He  had  approached  within  a  proper  distance  to  shoot,  when 
the  squirrel  sat  up  on  its  hind  legs  and  thus  addressed  him: 

"  My  grandchild,  put  up  your  arrows  and  listen  to  what  I 
have  to  tell  you."  The  boy  complied  rather  reluctantly, 
when  the  squirrel  continued ;     "  My  son,  I  see  you  pass  fre- 


ANNALS    OF    FORT   MACl.'INAC. 


95 


ittle 

he 

bur. 

vhen 

lim : 

latl 

,ntly, 

fre- 


quently, with  your  lingers  benumbed  with  cold,  and  crying 
with  vexation  for  not  liaving  killed  any  birds.  Now,  if  you 
will  follow  my  advice,  we  will  see  if  you  cannot  accomplish 
your  wishes.  If  you  will  strictly  pursue  my  advice,  we  will 
have  perpetual  summer,  and  you  will  then  have  the  pleasure 
of  killing  as  many  birds  as  you  please,  and  I  will  also  have 
something  to  eat. 

"Listen  to  me.  As  soon  as  you  get  home  you  must  com- 
mence crying.  You  must  throw  away  your  bow  and  arrows 
in  discontent.  If  your  mother  asks  you  what  is  the  matter, 
you  must  not  answer  her,  but  continue  crying  and  sobbing. 
If  she  offers  3'ou  anything  to  eat,  you  must  push  it  away  with 
apparent  discontent,  and  continue  crying.  In  the  evening, 
when  your  father  returns  from  hunting,  he  will  inquire  of 
your  mother  what  is  the  matter  with  you.  She  will  answer 
that  you  came  home  crying,  and  would  not  so  much  as  men- 
tion the  cause  to  her.  All  this  while  you  must  not  leave  off 
sobbing.  'At  last  your  father  will  say,  *My  son,  why  is 
this  unnecessary  grief  ?  Tell  me  the  cause.  You  know  1 
am  a  spirit,  and  that  nothing  is  impossible  for  me  to  per- 
form.* You  must  then  answer  him,  and  say  that  you  are 
sorry  to  see  the  snow  continually  on  the  ground,  and  ask  him 
if  he  could  not  cause  it  to  melt,  so  that  we  might  have  per- 
petual summer.  Say  it  in  a  supplicating  way,  and  tell  him 
this  is  the  cause  of  your  grief.  Your  father  will  reply,  'It 
is  very  hard  to  accomplish  your  request,  but  for  your  sake 
and  for  my  love  for  you,  I  will  use  my  utmost  endeavors.' 
He  will  tell  you  to  be  still  and  cease  crying.  He  will  try  to 
bring  summer  with  all  its  loveliness.  You  must  then  be 
quiet,  and  eat  that  which  is  set  before  you." 

The  squirrel  ceased.  The  boy  promised  obedience  to  hi^^ 
advice,  and  departed.  When  he  reached  home,  he  did  as  he 
had  been  instructed,  and  all  was  exactly  fulfilled,  as  it  had 
been  predicted  by  the  squirrel. 


I 


OJecg  told  liini  tliat  it  was  a  great  undertaking.  He  must 
first  !nake  a  feast,  and  invite  some  of  liis  friends  to  accom- 
pany liim  on  a  journe}'.  Next  day  he  had  a  bear  roasted 
whole.  All  who  had  been  invited  to  the  feast  came  punc- 
tually to  the  appointment.  There  were  the  Otter,  Beaver, 
Lynx,  Badger,  and  Wolverine.  After  the  feast  they  ar- 
ranged it  anjong  themselves  to  set  out  on  the  contemplated 
journey  in  three  days.  When  the  time  arrived,  the  Fisher 
took  leave  of  his  wife  and  son,  as  he  foresaw  that  it  was  for 
the  last  time.  lie  and  his  companions  traveled  in  company 
day  after  day,  meeting  with  nothing  but  the  ordinary  inci- 
dents. On  the  twentieth  day  they  arrived  at  the  foot  of  a 
high  mountain,  where  they  saw  the  tracks  of  some  person 
who  had  recently  killed  an  animal,  which  they  knew  by  the 
blood  that  marked  the  way.  The  Fisher  told  his  friends  that 
they  ought  to  follow  the  track,  and  see  if  they  could  not  pro- 
cure something  to  eat.  They  followed  it  for  some  time  ;  at 
last  they  arrived  at  a  lodge  which  had  been  hidden  from  their 
view  by  a  hollow  in  the  mountain.  Ojeeg  told  his  friends 
to  be  very  sedate,  and  not  to  laugh  on  any  account.  The 
first  object  that  they  saw  was  a  man  standing  at  the  door  of 
the  lodge,  but  of  so  deformed  a  shape  that  they  could  not 
possibly  make  out  who  or  what  sort  of  a  man  it  could  be. 
His  head  was  enormously  large  ;  he  had  such  a  queer  set  of 
teeth,  and  no  arms.  They  wondered  how  he  could  kill  ani- 
mals. But  the  secret  was  soon  revealed.  He  was  a  gi'eat 
Manitou.  He  invited  them  to  pass  the  night,  to  which  they 
consented.  •     ; 

He  boiled  his  meat  in  a  hollow  vessel  made  of  wood,  and 
took  it  out  of  this  singular  kettle  in  some  way  unknown  to 
his  guests.  He  carefully  gave  each  their  portion  to  eat,  but 
mode  so  many  odd  movements  that  the  Otter  could  not  re- 
frain from  laughing.  The  Manitou  looked  at  him  with  a 
terrible  look,  and  then  made  a  spring  at  him,  and  got  on  him 


ANNALS    OF    FOIIT    MACKINAC. 


97 


,  and 
n  to 
,biit 
)t  re- 
ith  a 
him 


fi^ 


to  smother  him,  for  that  was  his  mode  of  klllinfj  animals. 
I3nt  the  Otter,  when  lie  felt  him  on  his  nock,  slippcti  liis 
head  back  and  made  for  the  door,  which  he  passed  in  safety ; 
but  went  out  with  the  curse  of  tlie  Manitou.  The  others 
passed  the  night  and  they  conversed  on  diflPerent  subjects. 
The  Manitou  told  the  Fisher  that  he  would  accomplish  his 
object,  but  that  it  would  probably  cost  him  his  life.  Ho 
gave  them  his  advice,  directed  them  liow  to  act,  and  described 
a  certain  road  which  they  must  follow,  and  they  would  there- 
by be  led  to  the  place  of  action. 

They  set  off  in  the  morning,  and  met  their  friend,  the 
Otter,  shivering  with  cold  ;  but  Ojeeg  had  taken  care  to 
bring  along  some  of  the  meat  that  had  been  given  him, 
which  he  presented  to  his  friend.  They  pursued  their  way 
and  travelled  twenty  days  more  before  they  got  to  the  place 
which  the  Manitou  had  told  them  of.  It  was  a  lofty  moun- 
tain. They  rested  on  its  highest  peak  to  fill  their  pipes  and 
refresh  themselves.  Before  smoking,  they  made  the  custom- 
ary ceremony,  pointing  to  the  heavens,  the  four  winds,  the 
earth  and  the  zenith ;  in  the  meantime,  speaking  in  a  loud 
voice,  addressed  the  Great  Spirit,  hoping  that  their  object 
would  be  accomplished.     They  then  commenced  smoking. 

They  gazed  on  the  sky  in  silent  admiration  and  astonish- 
ment, for  they  were  on  so  elevated  a  point,  that  it  appeared 
to  be  only  a  short  distance  above  their  heads.  After  they 
had  finished  smoking,  they  prepared  themselves.  Ojeeg 
told  the  Otter  to  make  the  first  attempt  to  try  and  make  a 
hole  in  the  sky.  He  consented  with  a  grin.  He  made  a 
leap,  but  fell  down  the  hill  stunned  by  the  force  of  his  fall ; 
and  the  snow  being  moist,  and  falling  on  his  back,  he  slid 
with  velocity  down  the  side  of  the  mountain.  When  he 
found  himself  at  the  bottom,  he  thought  to  himself,  it  is 
the  last  time  I  make  such  a  jump,  so  1  will  make  the 
best  of  my  way  home.     Then  it  was  the  turn  of  the  Beaver, 


■■t*' .  i|  ^^mt^ntfrn 


98 


ANNAL8   OF   VORT   MACKINAC. 


wlio  made  the  attempt,  but  fell  down  senseless;  then  of  tho 
Lynx  and  Badger,  who  had  no  better  success. 

"Now,"  says  Fisher  to  the  Wolverine,  "  try  yonr  skill; 
your  ancestors  were  celebrated  for  their  activit}',  hardihood, 
and  perseverance,  and  I  depend  on  you  for  success.  Now, 
make  the  attempt."  lie  did  so,  but  also  without  success. 
lie  leaped  the  second  tinie,  but  now  they  could  see  that  the 
sky  was  giving  way  to  their  repeated  attempts.  Mustering 
strength,  he  made  the  third  leap,  and  went  in.  The  Fisher 
nimbly  f-^ilowed  him. 

They  found  themselves  in  a  beautiful  plain,  extending  as 
far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  covered  with  flowers  of  a  thousand 
different  hues  and  fragrance.  Here  and  there  were  clusters 
of  tall,  shady  trees,  separated  by  innumerable  streams  of  the 
purest  water,  which  wound  around  their  courses  under  the 
cooling  shades,  and  filled  the  plain  with  countless  beautiful 
lakes,  whose  banks  and  bosom  were  covered  with  water-fowl, 
basking  and  sporting  in  the  sun.  The  trees  were  alive  with 
birds  of  different  plumage,  warbling  their  sweet  notes,  and 
delighted  with  perpetual  spring. 

The  Fisher  and  his  friend  beheld  very  long  lodges,  and 
the  celestial  inhabitants  amusing  themselves  at  a  distance. 
Words  cannot  express  the  beauty  and  charms  of  the  place. 
The  lodges  were  empty  of  inhabitants,  but  they  saw  them 
lined  with  mocuks*  of  different  sizes,  filled  with  birds  and 
fowls  of  different  plumage.  Ojeeg  thought  of  liis  son,  and 
immediately  commenced  cutting  open  the  mocuks  and  letting 
out  the  birds,  who  descended  in  whole  flocks  through  the 
opening  which  they  had  made.  The  warm  air  of  those  re- 
gions also  rushed  down  through  the  opening,  and  spread  its 
genial  influence  over  the  north. 

•   When  the  celestial  inhabitants  saw  the  birds  let  loose,  and 
the  warm  gales  descending,  they  raised  a  shout  like  thun- 

*Baskets,  or  cages. 


ho 

ill; 

od, 
aw, 

ePB. 
the 
i-ing 
slier 

ig  as 
isand 
isters 
►f  the 
r  the 
ntiful 
-fowl, 
with 
18,  and 

|b,  and 
stance, 
place, 
thero 
is  and 
in,  and 
(letting 
r\\  the 
lose  re- 
lead  its 

ise,  and 
thun- 


ANNALS   OF   FUUT   MACriNAC. 


99 


der,  and  ran  for  their  lodges.  But  it  was  too  late.  Spring, 
summer  and  autumn  had  gone;  even  perpetual  summer  had 
almost  all  gone ;  but  they  separated  it  with  a  blow,  and  only 
a  part  descended  ;  but  the  ends  were  so  mangled,  that,  wher- 
ever it  prevails  among  the  lower  inhabitants,  it  is  always 
sickly. 

When  the  Wolverine  heard  the  noise,  he  made  for  the 
opening  and  safely  descended.  Not  so  the  Fisher.  Anxious 
to  fulfil  his  son's  wishes,  lie  continued  to  break  open  the  mo- 
cuks.  He  was,  at  last,  obliged  to  run  also,  but  the  opening 
was  now  closed  by  the  inhabitants.  He  ran  with  all  his  might 
over  the  plains  of  heaven,  and  it  would  appear,  took  a  north- 
erly direction.  He  saw  his  pursuers  so  close  that  he  had  to 
climb  the  first  large  tree  he  came  to.  They  commenced 
shooting  at  him  witii  their  arrows,  but  without  effect,  for  all 
his  body  was  invulnerable  except  the  space  of  about  an  irich 
near  the  tip  of  his  tail.  At  last  one  of  the  arrows  hi'i  the 
spot,  for  he  had  in  this  chase  assumed  the  shape  of  the  Fieher 
after  v/hom  he  was  named. 

He  looked  down  from  the  tree,  and  saw  some  among  his 
assailants  with  the  totems*  of  his  ancestors.  He  claimed  re- 
lationship and  told  them  to  desist,  which  they  only  did  at  the 
approach  of  night.  He  then  came  down  to  try  and  find  an 
opening  in  the  celestial  plain,  by  which  he  might  descend  to 
the  earth.  But  he  could  find  none.  At  last,  becoming  faint 
from  the  loss  of  blood  from  the  wound  on  his  tail,  he  laid 
himself  down  toward  the  north  of  the  plain,  and,  stretching 
out  his  limbs,  said,  "  I  have  fulfilled  m^r  promise  to  my  son, 
though  it  has  cost  \ue  my  life  ;  but  1  die  satisfied  in  the  idea 
that  I  have  done  so  much  good,  not  only  for  him,  but  for  my 
fellow-beings.  Hereafter  I  will  be  a  sign  to  the  inhabitants 
below  for  ages  to  come,  who  will  venerate  my  name  for  hav- 

*  Family  arms,  or  armorial  mark. 


.  [ 


100 


ANNALS    OF   FORT   MACKINAC. 


ing  succeeded  in  procuring  the  varying  seasons.     Tliey  will 
now  have  from  eight  to  ten  moons  .vithout  snow." 

He  was  found  dead  next  morning,  but  they  left  liim  as  they 
found  him,  with  the  arrow  sticking  in  his  tail,  as  it  can  be 
plainly  seen,  at  this  time,  in  the  heavens. 


w 


ANNALS    OF.FUKT    MACKINAC. 


101 


By 
be 


The  Spirit  of  Sleep. 


Tlie  power  of  the  Indian  Morpheus  is  executed  by  a  pecu- 
liar class  of  gnome-like  beings,  called  Wee7igs.  These  subor- 
dinate creations,  although  invisible  to  the  human  eye,  are 
each  armed  with  a  tiny  war-club,  with  which  they  nimbly 
climb  up  the  forehead,  and  knock  the  drowsy  person  on  tlie 
head  ;  on  which  sleepiness  is  immediately  produced.  If  the 
first  blow  is  insufficient,  another  is  given,  until  the  eyelids 
close,  and  a  sound  sleep  is  produced.  It  is  the  constant  duty 
of  these  little  agents  to  put  every  one  to  sleep  whom  they  en- 
counter— men,  women  and  children.  They  are  found  se- 
creted around  the  bed,  or  on  small  protuberances  of  the  bark 
of  the  Indian  lodges.  They  hide  themselves  in  the  smoking 
•pouch  of  the  hunter,  and  when  he  sits  down  to  light  his  pipe 
in  the  woods,  are  ready  to  fly  out  and  exert  their  sleep-com- 
pelling power.  If  they  succeed,  the  game  is  ^.  ffered  to  pass, 
and  the  hunter  obliged  to  return  to  his  lodge  without  a 
reward. 

In  general,  they  are  represented  to  possess  friendly  dispo- 
sitions, seeking  constantly  to  restore  vigor  and  elasticity  to 
the  exhausted  body.  But  being  without  judgment,  their 
power  is  sometimes  exerted  at  the  hazard  of  reputation,  or 
even  life.  Sleep  may  be  induced  in  a  person  carelessly  float- 
ing in  his  canoe,  above  a  fall ;  or  in  a  war  party,  on  the  bor- 
ders of  an  enemy's  country.  Although  their  peculiar  season 
of  action  is  in  the  night,  they  are  also  alert  during  the  day. 

While  the  forms  of  these  gnomes  are  believed  to  be  those 
of  little  or  fairy  men,  the  figure  of  Weeng  himself  is  un- 
known, and  it  is  not  certain  that  he  has  ever  been  seen.    Most 


1 1 
/  ( 


102 


ANNAL8   OP   FORT   MACKINAC. 


m    I 


of  what  is  known  on  this  subject,  is  derived  from  lagoo, 
who  related,  that  going  out  one  day  with  his  dogs  to  hunt,  he 
passed  through  a  wide  range  of  tiiicket,  where  he  lost  his 
dogs.  He  became  much  alarmed,  for  tliey  were  faithful  ani- 
mals, and  he  was  greatly  attached  to  them.  He  called  out, 
and  made  every  exertion  to  recover  them  in  vain.  At  length 
he  came  to  a  spot  where  he  found  them  asleep,  liaving  in- 
cautiously run  near  the  residence  of  Weeng.  After  great  ex- 
ertions he  aroused  them,  but  not  without  having  felt  Ihe 
power  of  somnolency  himself.  As  he  cast  his  eyes  up  from 
the  place  where  the  dogs  were  lying,  he  saw  the  Spirit  of 
Sleep  sitting  upon  the  branch  of  a  tree.  He  was  in  the  shape 
of  a  giant  insect,  with  many  wings  from  his  back,  whicli 
made  a  low,  deep  murmuring  sound,  like  distant  falling 
water. 

Weeng  is  also  the  author  of  dullness.     If  an  orator  fails,  lie 
is  said  to  be  struck  by  Weeng.     If  a  warrior  lingers,  he  has 
been  too  near  the  sleepy  god.     When  children  begin  to  nod 
or  ya  ■"",  the  Indian  mother  says,  "They  have  been  struck^ 
by  Weeng,"  and  puts  them  to  bed.. 


ANNALS    OF    FORT   MACKINAC. 


103 


%  4 


The  Humpbacked  Manitou. 


Bokwewa  and  liis  younger  brotlier  lived  in  a  secluded  part 
of  Mackinac  Island.  Tliey  were  Manitous,  wlio  had  assumed 
mortal  shapes.  Bokwewa  was  tlie  most  gifted  in  super- 
natural endowments,  although  he  was  deformed  in  person, 
but  hie  brother  partook  more  of  the  nature  of  the  present 
race  of  beings.  They  lived  retired  from  the  world,  and  un- 
disturbed by  its  cares. 

Bokwewa,  owing  to  his  deformity,  was  very  domestic  in 
his  habits,  and  gave  his  attention  to  household  affairs.  He 
instructed  his  brother  in  the  manner  of  pursuing  game,  and 
made  him  acquainted  with  all  the  accomplishments  of  a 
sagacious  and  expert  hunter.  His  brother  possessed  a  fine 
form,  an  active  and  robust  constitution,  and  felt  a  disposition 
to  show  himself  among  men.  He  was  restive  in  seclusion, 
and  showed  a  fondness  for  visiting  remote  places. 

One  day  he  told  his  brother  that  lie  was  going  to  leave 
him  ;  that  he  wished  to  visit  the  habitations  of  men  and  pro- 
cure a  wife.  Bokwev/a  objected  t  j  his  going ;  but  his  brother 
overruled  all  that  he  said,  and  he  finally  departed  on  his  trav- 
els. He  travelled  a  long  time.  At  length  he  fell  in  with  the 
footsteps  of  men.  They  were  moving  by  encampments,  for 
he  saw  several  places  where  they  had  encamped.  It  was  in 
the  winter.  He  came  to  a  place  where  one  of  their  number 
had  died.  They  had  placed  the  corpse  on  a  scaffold.  He 
went  to  it  and  took  it  down.  He  saw  that  it  was  the  corpse 
of  a  beautiful  young  woman.  "  She  shall  be  my  wife  !"  he 
exclaimed. 

He  took  her  up,  and  placing  her  on  his  back,  returned  to 


!  P 


104 


ANNAL8     jF    FORT    MACKINAC. 


his  brother.  "  Brother,"  he  said,  "cannot  j'oii  restore  her  to 
life?  Oh,  do  me  that  favor  !"  Bokwewa  said  he  would  try. 
He  performed  numerous  ceremonies,  and  at  list  succeeded  in 
restoring  her  to  life.  They  li^  ed  very  happily  for  some  time. 
Bokwewa  was  extremely  kind  to  his  brother,  and  did  every- 
thing to  render  his  life  happy.  Being  deformed  and  crippled, 
he  always  remained  at  home,  while  his  brother  went  out  to 
hunt.  And  it  was  by  following  his  directions,  which  were 
those  of  a  skilful  hunter,  that  he  always  succeeded  in  return- 
ing with  a  good  store  of  meat. 

One  day  he  had  gone  out  as  usual,  and  Bokwewa  was 
sitting  in  his  lodge,  on  the  opposite  side  of  his  brother's  wife, 
when  a  tall,  fine  young  man  entered,  and  immediately  took 
the  woman  by  the  iiand  and  drew  her  to  the  door.  She 
resisted  and  called  on  Bokw3wa,  who  jumped  up  to  her 
assistance.  But  their  joint  resistance  was  unavailing;  the 
man  succeed  fn  carrying*her  away.  In  the  scuffle,  Bokwewa 
had  his  humpback  much  bruised  on  the  stones  near  the  door. 
He  crawled  into  the  lodge  and  wept  very  sorely,  for  he  knew 
that  it  was  a  powerful  Manitou  who  had  taken  the  woman. 

When  his  brother  returned,  he  related  all  to  him  exactly  as 
it  happened.  He  would  not  taste  food  for  several  days. 
Sometimes  he  would  fall  to  weeping  for  a  long  time,  and 
appeared  almost  beside  himself.  At  last  he  said  he  would  go 
in  search  of  her,  Bokwewa  tried  to  dissuade  him  from  it, 
but  he  insisted. 

"  Well!"  said  he,  "  since  you  are  bent  on  going,  listen  to 
my  advice.  You  vrill  have  to  go  south.  It  is  a  long  distance 
to  the  residence  of  your  captive  wife,  and  there  are  so  many 
charms  and  temptations  in  the  way,  I  am  afraid  you  will  be 
led  astray  by  them,  and  forget  your  errand.  For  the  people 
whom  you  will  see  in  that  country  do  nothing  but  amuse 
themselves.  They  are  very  idle,  gay,  and  effieminate,  and  I 
am  fearful  they  will  lead  you  astray.     Your  journey  is  beset 


to 

ry. 

I  in 
acie. 
jry- 
led, 
t  to 

VGTQ 

urn- 
was 

ivife, 

took 
She 

>  her 

;  the 

r 

(yewa 

oor. 
jnew 
an. 
tlyas 
days, 
and 
lid  go 

m  it, 

en  to 
Stance 
Imany 
lill  be 
[eople 
Lmnso 
land  1 
1  beset 


ANNALS   OF   FOBT   MACKINAC. 


105 


witli  difficulties.  I  will  mention  one  or  two  things,  which 
you  must  be  on  your  guard  against.  In  the  course  of  your 
journey,  you  will  come  to  a  large  grapevine  lying  across  your 
way.  You  must  not  even  taste  its  frnit,  for  it  is  poisonous. 
Step  over  it.  It  is  a  snake.  You  will  next  come  to  some- 
thing that  looks  like  beards  fat,  transparent  and  tremulous. 
Don't  taste  it  or  you  will  be  overcome  by  the  pleasures  of 
those  people.  It  is  frog's  eggs.  These  are  snares  laid  by  the 
way  for  you." 

He  said  he  wonld  follow  the  advice,  and  bid  farewell  to 
his  brother.  After  travelling  a  long  time,  he  came  to  the 
enchanted  grape  vine.  It  looked  so  tempting,  he  forgot  his 
brother's  advice  and  tasted  the  fruit.  He  went  on  till  he 
came  to  the  frog's  eggs.  The  substance  so  much  resembled 
bear's  fat  that  lie  tasted  it.  He  still  went  on.  At  length  he 
came  to  a  very  extensive  plain.  As  he  emerged  from  the 
forest  the  sun  was  setting,  and  CaSt  its  scarlet  and  golden  shades 
over  all  the  plain.  The  air  was  perfectly  calm,  and  the  whole 
prospect  had  the  air  of  an  enchanted  land.  The  most  invit- 
ing fruits  and  flowers  spread  out  before  the  eye.  At  a  dis- 
tance he  beheld  a  large  village,  filled  with  people  without 
number,  and  as  he  drew  near  he  saw  women  beating  corn  in 
silver  mortars.  When  they  saw  him  approaching,  they  cried 
out,  "Bokwewa's  brother  has  come  to  see  us."  Throngs  of 
men  and  women  gaily  dressed,  came  out  to  meet  him.  He 
was  soon  overcome  by  their  flatteries  and  pleasures,  and  he 
was  not  long  afterward  seen  beating  corn  with  their  women 
(the  strongest  proof  of  effeminacy),  although  his  wife,  for 
whom  he  had  mourned  so  much,  was  in  that  Indian  metropolis. 

Meantime,  Bokwewa  waited  patiently  for  the  return  of  his 
brother.  At  length,  after  the  lapse  of  several  years,  he  set 
out  in  search  of  him,  and  arrived  in  safety  among  the  luxuri- 
ant people  of  the  South.  He  met  with  the  same  allurements 
on  the  road,  and  the  same  flattering  reception  that  his  brother 


■' 


I.   V 


i 


! 


n 


106 


ANNAL8   OF    FORT   MACKINAC. 


did.  Bnt  he  was  above  all  temptations.  The  pleasures  he 
saw  had  no  other  effect  upon  him  than  to  make  him  i egret 
the  weakness  of  mind  of  those  who  were  led  away  by  tliem. 
He  shed  tears  of  pity  to  see  that  his  brother  had  laid  aside  the 
arms  of  a  hunter,  and  was  seen  beating  corn  with  the  women. 

He  ascertained  where  his  brother's  wife  remained.  After 
deliberating  some  time,  he  went  to  the  river  where  she  usually 
came  to  draw  water.  He  there  changed  himself  into  one  of 
those  hair  snakes  which  are  sometimes  seen  in  running  water. 
When  she  came  down,  he  spoke  to  her,  saying,  "  Take  me  up ; 
I  am  Bokwewa."  She  then  scooped  him  out  and  went  home. 
In  a  short  time  the  Manitou  who  had  taken  her  away  asked 
her  for  water  to  drink.  She  handed  him  the  water  contain- 
ing the  hair  snake,  which  he  drank  with  the  snake,  and  soon 
after  was  a  dead  Manitou. 

Bokwewa  then  resumed  his  former  shape.  He  went  to  his 
brother,  and  used  every  means  to  reclaim  him.  But  he  would 
not  listen.  He  was  so  much  taken  up  with  the  pleasures  and 
dissipations  into  which  he  had  fallen,  that  he  refused  to  give 
them  up,  although  Bokwewa,  with  tears,  tried  to  convince 
him  of  his  foolishness,  and  to  show  him  that  those  pleasures 
could  not  endure  for  a  long  time.  Finding  that  he  was  past 
reclaiming,  Bokwewa  left  him  and  disappeared  forever. 


ANNALS   OF    FORT    MACKINAC, 


107 


The  Stone  Canoe. 


to  his 
oiild 
\  and 
give 
vince 
sures 
past 


' 


There  was  a  very  beautiful  young  girl,  who  died  sud- 
denly on  the  day  she  was  to  have  been  married  to  a  hand- 
some young  man.  He  was  also  brave  but  his  heart  was  not 
proof  against  this  loss.  From  the  hour  she  was  buried,  tlicre 
was  xio  more  joy  or  peace  for  him.  He  went  often  to  visit 
the  spot  where  the  women  had  buried  her,  and  sat  musing 
there,  when,  it  was  thought  by  some  of  his  friends,  he  would 
have  done  better  to  try  to  amuse  himself  in  the  chase,  or  on 
the  war-path.  But  war  and  hunting  had  lost  their  charms. 
His  heart  was  already  dead  within  him.  He  pushed  aside 
his  war-club  and  his  bow  and  arrows. 

He  had  heard  the  old  people  say  that  there  was  a  path  that 
led  to  the  land  of  souls  and  he  determined  to  follow  it.  lie 
accordingly  set  out  one  morning,  after  having  completed  his 
preparations  for  the  journe}'.  At  first  he  hardly  knew  which 
way  to  go.  He  was  only  guided  by  the  tradition  that  he 
must  go  south.  For  a  while  he  could  see  no  change  in  the 
face  of  the  country.  Forests,  and  hills,  and  valleys,  and 
streams  had  the  same  looks  which  they  wore  in  his  native 
place.  There  was  snow  on  the  ground  when  he  set  out,  and 
it  was  sometimes  seen  to  be  piled  and  matted  on  the  thick 
trees  and  bushes.  At  length  it  began  to  diminish,  and  finally 
disappeared.  The  forest  assumed  a  more  cheerful  appear- 
ance, and  the  leaves  put  forth  their  buds,  and  before  he  was 
aware  of  the  completeness  of  the  change,  he  found  himself 
surrounded  by  spring.  He  had  left  behind  him  the  land  of 
snow  and  ice.  The  air  became  mild  ;  the  dark  clouds  of  win- 
ter had  rolled  away  from  the  sky ;  a  pure  field  of  blue  was 


108 


ANNALS    OF    FORT  MACKINAC. 


I 


1    ! 


I  , 


above  him,  and  as  he  went  he  saw  flowers  beside  his  path, 
and  heard  the  songs  of  birds.  By  tliese  signs  he  knew  that 
he  was  '-oing  the  right  way,  for  they  agreed  with  the  tradi- 
tions 01  his  tribe.  At  length  he  spied  a  path.  It  led  him 
throngh  a  grove,  then  up  a  long  and  elevated  ridge,  on  the 
very  top  of  which  he  came  to  a  lodge.  At  the  door  stood  an 
old  man  with  white  hair,  whose  eyes,  though  deeply  sunk, 
had  a  liery  brilliancy.  He  had  a  long  robe  of  skins  thrown 
loosely  around  his  shoulders,  and  a  staff  in  his  hands.  It  was 
Ohebiabos. 

The  young  Chippewa  began  to  tell  his  story ;  but  the  ven- 
erable chief  arrested  him  before  he  had  proceeded  to  speak 
ten  words.  "  I  have  expected  you,"  he  replied,  "and  had 
just  risen  to  bid  you  welcome  to  my  abode.  She  whom  you 
seek  passed  here  but  a  few  days  since,  and  being  fatigued 
with  her  journey,  rested  herself  here.  Enter  my  lodge  and  be 
seated,  and  I  will  then  satisfy  your  inquiries,  and  give  you 
directions  for  your  journey  from  chis  point."  Having  done 
this  they  both  issued  forth  to  the  lodge  door.  "  You  see 
yonder  gulf,"  said  he,  "  and  the  wide  stretching  blue  plains 
beyond.  It  is  the  land  of  souls.  You  stand  upon  its  borders, 
and  my  loJge  is  the  gate  of  entrance.  But  you  cannot  take 
your  body  along.  Leave  it  here  with  your  bow  and  arrows, 
your  bundle  and  your  dog.  You  will  find  them  safe  on  your 
return."  So  saying,  he  re-entered  the  lodge,  and  the  freed 
traveller  bounded  forward  as  if  his  feet  had  suddenly  been 
endowed  with  the  power  of  wings.  But  all  things  retained 
their  natural  colors  and  shapes.  The  woods  and  leaves,  and 
streams  and  lakes,  were  only  more  bright  and  comely  than  he 
had  ever  witnessed.  Animals  bounded  across  his  path  with 
a  freedom  and  a  confidence  which  seemed  to  tell  him  there 
was  no  blood  shed  here.  Birds  of  beautiful  plumage  inhab- 
ited the  groves  and  sported  in  the  waters.  There  was  but 
one  thing  in  which  he  saw  a  very  unusual  effect.     He  noticed 


ANNALS    OF   FORT   MACKINAO. 


109 


atli, 

that 

•adi- 

him 

L  the 

d  an 

link, 

fown 

twas 

ven- 
speak 
1  had 
n  you 
igued 
^nd  be 
I  you 
done 
m  see 
plains 
n'ders, 
it  take 
•rows, 
your 
freed 
been 
Itained 
es,  and 
iian  he 
with 
there 
linhab- 
las  but 
Noticed 


<°    I  ^ 


that  his  passage  was  not  stopped  by  trees  or  otlier  objects. 
He  appeared  to  walk  directly  t];rough  them.  Tliey  were,  in 
fact,  but  the  souls  or  shadows  of  material  trees.  He  became 
sensible  that  he  was  in  a  land  of  shadows.  AVhen  lie  had 
travelled  half  a  day's  journey,  through  a  country  which  was 
continually  becoming  more  attractive,  he  came  to  the  banks 
of  a  broad  lake,  in  the  center  of  which  was  ii  large  and  beau- 
tiful island.  He  found  a  canoe  of  shining  white  stone,  tied 
to  the  shore.  He  was  now  sure  that  he  had  come  the  right 
path,  "for  the  aged  man  had  told  him  of  this.  There  were 
also  shining  paddles.  He  immediately  entered  the  canoe  and 
took  the  paddles  in  his  hands,  when  to  his  joy  and  surprise, 
on  turning  round,  he  beheld  the  object  of  his  search  in  an- 
other canoe,  exactly  its  counterpart  in  everything.  She  had 
exactly  imitated  his  motions,  and  tliey  were  side  by  side. 
They  at  once  pushed  out  from  the  shore  and  began  to  cross  the 
lake.  Its  waves  seemed  to  be  rising,  and  at  a  distance  looked 
ready  to  swallow  them  up ;  but  just  as  they  entered  the 
whitened  edge  of  them  they  seemed  to  melt  away,  as  if  tliey 
were  but  the  images  of  waves.  But  no  sooner  was  one  wreath 
of  foam  passed,  than  another,  more  threatening  still,  rose  up. 
Thus  they  were  in  perpetual  fear ;  and  what  added  to  it,  wjis 
the  clearness  of  the  water,  through  which  they  could  see  heaps 
of  beings  who  had  perished  before,  and  whose  bones  lay 
strewed  on  the  bottom  of  the  lake.  The  Master  of  Life  had, 
however,  decreed  to  let  them  pass,  for  the  actions  of  neither 
of  them  had  been  bad.  But  they  saw  many  others  struggling 
and  sinking  in  tiie  waves.  Old  men  and  young  men,  males 
and  females  of  all  ages  and  ranks  were  there ;  some  passed 
and  some  sank.  It  was  only  the  little  children  whose  canoes 
seemed  to  meet  no  waves.  At  length,  every  difficulty  was 
gone,  as  in  a  moment,  and  they  both  leaped  out  on  the  happy 
island.  They  felt  that  the  very  air  was  food.  It  strength- 
ened and  nourished  them.     They  wandered  together  over  the 


110 


ANNALS   OF   FORT   MACKINAC. 


blissful  fields,  where  everything  was  formed  to  please  the  eye 
and  the  ear.  There  were  no  tempests — there  was  no  ice,  no 
chilly  winds — no  one  suffered  for  the  want  of  warm  clothes  ; 
no  one  suffered  for  hunger — no  one  mourned  the  dead.  They 
saw  no  graves.  They  heard  of  no  wars.  Tliere  was  no  hunt- 
ing of  animals, — the  air  itself  was  their  food.  Gladly  would 
the  young  warrior  have  remained  there  forever,  but  he 
was  obliged  to  go  back  for  his  body.  He  did  not  see  the 
Master  of  Life,  but  he  heard  His  voice  in  a  soft  breeze.  "  Go 
back,"  said  this  voice,  "to  the  land  from  whence  you  came. 
Your  time  has  not  yet  come.  The  duties  for  which  I  made 
you,  and  which  you  are  to  perform,  are  not  yet  finished. 
Return  to  your  people  and  accomplish  the  duties  of  a  good 
man.  You  will  be  the  ruler  of  your  tribe  for  many  days. 
The  rules  you  must  observe  will  be  told  you  by  my  messen- 
ger, V  ho  keeps  the  gate.  When  he  surrenders  back  your 
body,  he  will  tell  you  what  to  do.  Listen  to  him,  and  you 
shall  afterwards  rejoin  the  spirit,  which  you  must  now  leave 
behind.  She  is  accepted,  and  will  be  ever  here,  as  young 
and  as  happy  as  she  was  when  I  first  called  her  from  the  land 
of  snow,  hunger  and  tears." 


ANNALS   OF   FOUT  MACKINAC. 


Ill 


The  Enchanted  Moccasins. 


On  Mackinac  Island  tliere  lived  a  little  boy,  alone  with  his 
older  orphan  sister.  They  saw  beasts,  and  birds,  the  sky 
above  and  the  earth  beneath,  and  the  waters  around  them, 
but  there  were  no  human  beings  beside  themselves.  The  boy 
often  retired  to  think,  in  lone  places,  and  the  opinion  was 
formed  that  he  had  supernatural  powers.  She  supposed  that 
he  would  perform  some  extraordinary  exploits,  and  he  was 
called  Onwe  Bahmondoong,  or  He  that  carries  a  Ball  on 
his  Back.  As  he  grew  up  he  was  impatient  to  know  whetiier 
there  were  any  other  human  beings ;  she  replied  that  there 
were,  but  they  lived  in  a  remote  distance.  There  was  a  large 
village  of  hunters  and  warriors.  Being  now  well  grown,  he 
determined  to  seek  his  fortune,  and  asked  her  to  make  him 
several  pairs  of  moccasins  to  last  him  on  the  journey.  With 
this  request  she  complied.  Then  taking  his  bow  and  arrows, 
and  his  war  club,  and  a  little  sack  containing  his  nawappo^ 
or  travelling  victuals,  he  immediately  set  out  on  his  journey. 
He  travelled  on,  not  knowing  exactly  where  he  went.  Hills, 
plains,  trees,  rocks,  forests,  meadows,  spread  before  him. 
Sometimes  he  killed  an  animal,  sometimes  a  bird.  The  deer 
often  started  in  his  path.  He  saw  the  fox,  the  bear  and  the 
ground-hog.  The  eagles  screamed  above  him.  The  ducks 
chattered  in  the  ponds  and  lakes.  He  lay  down  and  slept 
when  he  was  tired,  he  rose  up  when  he  was  refreshed.  At 
last  he  came  to  a  small  wigwam,  and,  on  looking  into  it,  dis- 
covered a  very  old  woman  sitting  alone  by  the  fire.  As  soon 
as  she  saw  the  stranger,  she  invited  him  in,  and  thus  addressed 
him :   "Hy  poor  grandchild,  I  suppose  you  are  one  of  those 


112 


ANN/L8   OF   PORT   MACKINAC. 


;; 


i 


who  seek  for  the  distant  village,  from  which  no  person  has 
ever  3'et  returned.  Unless  3'onr  guardian  is  more  powtirful 
than  the  guardian  of  your  predecessors,  you  too  will  sliare  a 
similar  fate  of  theirs.  Be  careful  to  provide  yourself  with 
the  Ozheb€'\hguhnun — the  bones  they  use  in  the  medicine 
dance — without  which  you  cannot  succeed."  After  she  iiad 
thus  spoken,  she  gave  him  the  following  directions  for  his 
journey.  "  When  you  come  near  to  the  village  which  you 
seek,  yon  will  see  in  the  center  a  large  lodge,  in  whicii  the 
chief  of  the  village,  who  has  two  daughters,  resides.  Before 
the  door  you  will  see  a  great  tree,  which  is  smooth  and  des- 
titute of  bark.  On  this  tree,  about  the  height  of  a  man  from 
the  ground,  a  small  lodge  is  suspended,  in  which  these  two 
daughters  dwell.  It  is  here  so  many  have  been  destroyed. 
Be  wise,  my  grandchild  and  abide  strictly  by  my  directions.'* 
The  old  woman  then  gave  him  the  Ozhebahguhnun,  which 
would  cause  his  success.  Placing  them  in  his  bosom,  he  con- 
tinued his  journe}',  till  at  length  he  arrived  at  the  sought-for 
village ;  and,  as  he  was  gazing  around  him,  he  saw  both  the 
tree  and  the  lodge  which  the  old  woman  had  mentioned. 
Immediately  he  bent  his  steps  for  the  tree,  and  approaching, 
he  endeavored  to  reach  the  suspend  d  lod^e.  But  all  his  ef- 
forts were  vain  ;  for  as  often  as  he  attempted  to  reach  it,  the 
tree  began  to  tremble,  and  soon  shot  up  so  that  the  lodge  could 
hardly  be  perceived.  Foiled  as  he  was  in  all  his  attempts,  he 
thought  of  his  guardian  and  changed  himself  into  a  small 
squirrel,  that  he  might  more  easily  accomplish  his  design. 
He  then  mounted  the  tree  in  quest  of  the  lodge.  After 
climbing  for  some  time,  he  became  fatigued,  and  panted  for 
breath  ;  but,  remembering  the  instructions  which  the  old 
woman  had  given  him,  he  took  from  his  bosom  one  of  the 
bones,  and  thrust  it  into  the  trunk  of  the  tree  on  which  he 
eat.  In  this  way  he  quickly  found  relief ;  and,  as  often  as 
he  became  fatigued  he  repeated  this ;  but  whenever  he  came 


» 


f 


^WALS  OF  KOKr  MACKWAO; 


"ear  the  lodge  and  attempted  tot      ,  • 

«P  »«  before,  and  place  t2l„r';  "  "'"  "■'"'  '^«''W  «l.oot 

■ng  all  resolntio,,  |,e  detormi.^^,)  "  "'«'"•     S"»>.non. 

eacl,  the  objeet  of  his  ZZ     n"         "  """"""•  '"^°^'^"o 

I'e  came  near  the  lodge  a,  d  :tt  '.  '*''""  ''  i'"^'  »»  «oo„  as 

«f  -  ^i'oo.,  b..t  ,-t  hadiSed  rs :,  ;'■"<"'  "• '""  '- 

go  no  h.gi.er;  so  now  he  enter,  H  ,  '"•'""""  ""^  conid 
'wo  s,sters  sitting  opposite  e  d  ol  ^  "''«"  "'"'  "'"''^^  "'« 
Tl'e   one  on  his  lefihandr!  1.  ""^  "^''«'' "'eir  names 

one  on  the  right  Nejla,  t   ''^ '^  ^""-"ee,*  and  S 
tbe  one  on  his  left  ha„j  .,  ' '"^     "'lienever  he  addressed 
«"d  mottle  do„.n  to  it    L   :;2-r""  "•«"""•  »«  beS 
dressed  the  one  on  his  ZT,    T'""-    ■^""  "'-e"  he  Z 
ward  as  before.     W,e  ,    f  J  ;"'':  ''  -onld  again  shoo!  ut 
■ng  the  one  on  his  left  h  nj     ,1  f''"''"'^  """>  by  addre  s- 
t>nned  to  do  so  nntil  it     d  r^,  d'v  7""  """"'"''' '-  -n- 
eeizmg  hie  war  clnb  he  tb,  1       ■     '"  ^o'™«  position  •  then 
vvho  have  eansed  tied  at    "  ^      "^"^  "'"  ^''^'^'-^  ••     "Yo7 
"°w  put  an  end  to,  and  t    "  ,  !  """''  °^  "*>'  '"'""-rs.  I  wi  1 
3'ou  have  destroyed."    A  d'tlW  7"^'  '"'  "^  ''"'"'^"" 

'd    .em  dead  at  his  feet.     He  tt"".'"  'T"  "'^  «''">  ""d 
"'at  these  sisters  had  a  brother  i?'t  ''"^.'^f -^^d,  and  learning 
wonld  pursue  him  for  the  J    j  he     1  J'"'  "'"''■  '""•«'•,  who        ' 
dom,  not  knowing  whitiL       we  l^'  J""' ''?«'  ««  "i  ra^! 
and  mother  of  the  yonng  wo„Te„  I-   ,T  """'•  "'«  f""'er 
found  their  remain.     Tl,„  ""^^  their  lod^e  ,nX 

i"^ewis,  that  bls";iers^S;rn1^''^'^'f '''- 
person  wlw,  has  don^  tl  •  ^''""-      He  replied   "  T 

Ball  on  his  Ba'lc     TwS  T"'  '? ."'«  ^«^  "-'      m'es  1' 
fe  blood  of  my  sisters""  ^:'iT;.:  t'T,  '"'  '^^'  ^-4     - 
^^"-     "  The  spirit  of  ,o„r  We  gr^'' 'o"'  s""'"  """' ^^  ""« 
•0.e  Who  sit.  boI„„.,  ^  "  """'="'^-     -f  «oun- 


t  One  who  sits  before. 


114 


▲  NNAL8    OF    FOKT    MACKINAC. 


'! 

'I 


8cl  you  to  be  wary  U\  the  pursuit.  It  is  a  strong  spirit  who 
has  done  tliis  injury  to  us,  and  lie  will  try  to  deceive  you  in 
•every  way.  Above  all,  avoid  tasting  food  till  you  succeed  ; 
for  if  you  break  your  fast  before  you  see  his  blood  your  power 
will  bo  destroyed." 

His  son  instantly  set  out  in  search  of  the  murderer,  who, 
finding  he  was  closely  pursued  by  the  brother  of  the  slain, 
climbed  up  into  one  of  the  tallest  trees  and  shot  forth  liia 
mngic  arrows.  Finding  that  his  pursuer  was  not  turned  back 
by  his  arrows,  ho  renewed  his  flight ;  and  when  he  found 
himself  hard  pressed,  and  his  enemy  close  behind  him,  he 
transformed  himself  into  the  skeleton  of  a  moose  that  had 
been  killed,  whose  flesh  had  come  oft'  from  his  bones.  He 
then  remembered  the  moccasins  which  his  sister  had  given 
him,  which  were  enchanted.  Taking  a  pair  of  them,  he 
placed  them  near  the  skeleton.  "  Go,"  said  he  to  them,  "  to 
the  end  of  the  earth." 

The  moccasins  then  left  him  and  their  tracks  remained. 
Mudjikewis  at  length  came  to  the  skeleton  of  the  moose,  when 
he  perceived  that  the  track  he  had  long  been  pursuing  did 
not  end  there,  so  lie  continued  to  follow  it  up,  till  he  came  to 
the  end  of  the  earth,  where  he  found  only  a  pair  of  moccasins. 
Mortifled  that  he  had  been  outwitted  by  following  a  pair  of 
moccasins  instead  of  the  object  of  his  revenge,  he  bitterly 
complained,  resolving  not  to  give  up  the  pursuit,  and  to  be 
more  wary  and  wise  In  scrutinizing  signs.  He  then  called  to 
mind  the  skeleton  he  met  on  his  way,  and  concluded  that  it 
must  be  the  object  of  his  search.  He  retraced  his  steps  to- 
wards the  skeleton,  but  found,  to  his  surprise,  that  it  had  dis- 
appeared, and  the  tracks  of  07iwe  Bahmondoong^  or  He 
who  carries  the  Ball,  were  in  another  direction.  He  now  be- 
came faint  with  hunger,  and  resolved  to  give  up  the  pursuit; 
but  when  he  remembered  the  blood  of  his  sisters,  he  deter- 
mined again  to  pursue. 


'f 


ANNALS   OF   FORT   MACKINAO. 


116 


,  bo 
"to 


iir  of 
Iterly 
Ito  be 
led  to 
lat  it 
)8  to- 
dis- 
He 
be- 
Isuit ; 
eter- 


The  otbcr,  finding  be  was  closely  pursued,  now  cbanged 
himself  into  a  very  old  man  witli  two  daugbters,  wbo  lived 
in  a  large  lodge  in  tbe  center  of  a  beautiful  garden,  wbicb 
was  tilled  with  evcrytbing  that  could  delif^bt  the  eye  or 
wad  pleasant  to  the  taste.  He  made  himself  appear  so 
very  old  as  to  be  unable  to  leave  his  lodge,  and  had  his  daugh- 
ters to  bring  him  food  and  wait  on  him.  The  garden  alio 
had  the  ap[)carance  of  ancient  occupancy,  and  was  highly 
cultivated. 

His  pursuer  continued  on  till  he  was  nearly  starved  and 
ready  to  sink.  He  exclaimed,  "Oh!  I  will  forget  the;  blood 
of  my  sisters,  for  1  am  starving ;"  but  again  he  thought  of 
the  blood  of  his  sisters,  and  again  he  resolved  to  pursue,  and 
be  satisfied  with  nothing  but  his  revenge. 

He  went  on  till  he  came  to  the  beautiful  garden.  He  ap. 
proached  tbe  lodge.  As  soon  as  the  daughters  of  the  owner 
perceived  him,  they  ran  and  told  their  father  that  a  stranger 
approached  the  lodge.  Their  father  replied,  "  Invite  him  in, 
my  children,  invite  him  in."  They  quickly  did  so;  and  by 
the  command  of  their  father,  they  boiled  some  corn  and  pre- 
pared other  savory  food.  Mudjikewis  had  no  suspicion  of 
the  deception.  He  was  faint  and  weary  with  travel,  and  felt 
that  he  could  endure  fasting  no  longer.  Without  hesitancy, 
be  partook  heartily  of  the  meal,  and  in  so  doing  was  overcome. 
All  at  once  be  seemed  to  forget  the  blood  of  his  sisters,  and 
even  tbe  village  of  bis  nativity.  He  ate  so  heartily  as  to  pro- 
duce drowsiness,  and  soon  fell  into  a  profound  sleep.  Onwe 
Baimiondoong  watched  his  opportunity,  and,  as  soon  as  he 
found  his  slumbers  sound,  resumed  his  youthful  form.  He 
then  drew  the  magic  ball  from  his  back,  wbicb  turned  out  to 
be  a  heavy  war  club,  with  one  blow  of  wbicb  he  put  an  end 
to  his  pursuer  and  thus  vindicated  bis  title  as, — Wearer  of 
tbe  Magic  Ball. 


U  ! 


!i 


•  1    • 


J^OU^f/^ 


^3' 


nrr. 


t 


ANNALS    OF    FOKT   MACKINAC. 


119 


5si 


1 

eL<1)^  CD 

W    — - 

o 

< 


UJ 

o 


♦    ,.    • 


. 


ANCIENT  MICHILIMAKINAC. 


ij. 


Mishinimakina,  in  the  locative  case,  Mishinima- 
hinang^  —  "at  the  great  uplifted  bow,"  "at  the  «^reat 
hanging  arch," — is  the  Indian  name  of  the  Island  of 
Mackinac.  i^See  Vol.  2,  of  Kelton's  "Indian  Names 
of  Places  Near  the  Great  Lakes.") 


The  term  "Michilimackinac,  or  "the  country  of  Michili- 
mackinac,"  was  by  the  early  French  applied  to  a  large 
portion  of  the  eastern  half  of  the  Upper  Peninsula  of 
Michigan. 

Gradually  the  term  was  restricted  to  the  French  and 
Indian  settlements  on  either  side  of  the  strait,  and  finally 
to  the  Island  of  Mackinac. 


The  French  La  Pointe  de  St.  Ignace  had  likewise  a 
broader  signification  than  the  present  Point  St.  Ignace ;  it 
was  applied  to  the  whole  of  the  little  peninsula  whose  base 
may  be  defined  by  drawing  a  line  due  west  from  ihu  mouth 
of  Carp  River  to  Lake  Michigan.  Our  map  shows  only 
the  southern  half  of  it. 


120 


ANNALS    OF    FOKY    MACKINAC. 


1 


i 


! 


EARLIEST    INHABITANTS. 

• 

"  The  "  Ancient-miners "  of  upper  Michigan,  probably 
connected  with  the  "Mound-builders"  of  the  Mississippi 
Valley,  and  with  the  Toltecs  and  Aztecs,  may  have  had  an 
agricultural  outpost  at  St.  Ignace.  The  vestiges  of  a  mound 
have  been  traced  in  the  neighborhood  of  Point  La  Barbe. 
No  tradition,  however,  referring  to  that  people  is  found 
among  our  Indians.  The  earliest  inhabitants  known  to  the 
latter  were  the  MisJmiimakinago,  i.  e.,  "the  people  of 
J^ishifiimakinaJ^ 

According  to  the  statement  of  a  few  still  surviving,  at  the 
time  of  the  French  occupation,  that  tribe  was  nearly  exter- 
minated by  the  Iroquois,  in  retaliation  for  a  raid  made  by 
them  into  the  country  of  the  latter. 


\ 


ANCIENT    MICHILIMAKINAO. 


121 


tbly 
ippi 

an 
und 
rbe. 
und 

the 
5   of 

;  the 
Kter- 
e  l)y 


»     « 


EAELY   FRENCH  VISITORS,   AND     TRANSIENT 

INDIAN  SETTLERS. 

John  Nicolet,  on  his  remarkable  journey  from  Canada  to 
Green  Bay — about  1634 — was  undoubtedly  the  first  white 
man  that  saw  the  Island  of  Mackinac,  and,  coasting  around 
the  little  peninsula,  entered  Lake  Michigan. 

From  the  meagre  account  left  of  his  journey,  nothing  can 
be  gleaned  regarding  the  inhabitants  of  the  Mackinac  country 
at  that  period. 

But  whatever  Indian  population  that  intrepid  traveler  may 
have  met  there,  the  whole  neighborhood  was  deserted  twenty 
years  later,  when  the  ascendancy  gained  by  the  Ircquois  in 
consequence  of  their  destructive  onslaught  on  ^\q  Hi(  ons 
(1649),  had  compelled  all  the  little  Algonquin  clans  oh  '  e 
Huron  to  seek  safer  qua.  Lors  on  Lake  Superior  an(*  i 

Bay.  In  1651,  or  perhaps  the  year  following,  thr  jinail 
tribe  of  Tionontate  Hurons,  on  their  flight  before  the  Iro- 
quois, reached  Mackinac,  and  deeming  the  island  a  safe  re- 
treat, held  it  for  about  two  years ;  but  being  deceived  in  their 
expectation,  retreated  to  the  islands  at  the  mouth  of  Green 
Bay,  and  later  on,  to  its  head. 

Some  of  the  old  clearings  which  dot  the  wooded  part  of 
Mackinac  Island  may  date  back  to  that  period,  for  the  Tion- 
ontates  were  tillers  of  the  soil.  In  the  autumn  of  1654,  two 
young  Frenchmen,  convoyed  by  Indians,  passed  Mackinac, 
on  their  way  to  Green  Bay.  They  repassed  the  island  in  the 
summer  of  1666,  with  fifty  canoes  laden  with  fur  for  the 
Canada  market,  and  manned  by  five  hundred  Hurons  and 
Algonquins. 

The  next  Frenchman  known  to  have  passed  the  strait  was 
Nicolas  Perrot,  to  whose  Memoirs  we  are  indebted  for  a 


122 


ANNALS   OF   FOKT  MAGEINAO 


: 


portion  of  what  we  know  of  those  early  times.  He  made 
his  first  journey  to  Green  Bay  about  1665.  From  that  date 
down  to  the  end  of  the  century,  Perrot  was  a  frequent  visi- 
tor at  Mackinac,  and  on  some  occasions  played  a  conspicuous 
part  in  the  transactions  between  his  countrymen  and  the  In- 
dians at  that  post.  At  length  the  Black  Gown  arrived. 
Father  Claude  Allouez  was  the  first  of  the  Jesuit  mission- 
aries who  saT  the  far-famed  island.  He  had  left  La  Pointe 
du  Ct,  Esprit  on  Lake  Superior  in  the  summer  of  1669,  and 
started  from  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  November  3rd,with  two  French 
companions  and  some  Pottawatomie  Indians.  From  Novem- 
ber 6th  to  11th,  he  lay  wind  and  snow-bound  on  "Little  St. 
Martin's  Island,"  to  which  he  probably  gave  its  name,  the 
day  of  his  departure  being  St.  Martin's  day.  Crossing  over 
from  "  Big  St.  Martin's  Island  "  to  the  opposite  shore,  he 
met  two  Frenchmen  and  a  few  Indians,  who  endeavored  in 
vain  to  make  him  desist  from  his  intended  visit  to  Green 
Bay,  so  late  in  the  season. 

While  coasting  along  the  shore,  with  the  island  in  view, 
the  missionary  listened  with  pleasure  to  the  recital,  by  his 
Indian  companions,  of  some  of  the  legends  which  the  author 
of  Hiawatha  has  put  into  English  verse.  Hiawatha  is  the 
Mena-bosho,  or  Nena-bosho,  of  the  Algonquins ;  and  the 
Island  of  Mackinac  was  considered  as  his  birthplace ;  and 
again,  after  the  fiood,  as  the  locality  where  that  civilizer  of 
mankind,  observing  a  spider  weaving  its  web,  invented  the 
art  of  fishing  with  gill-nets.  Father  Allouez  reached  the 
head  of  Green  Bay  after  a  month's  journey  full  of  hardship 
and  peril. 


', 


ANCIENT    MICIIILIMAKINAO. 


123 


View, 
)y  his 
LUthor 
the 
the 
and 
ler  of 
the 
the 
[ship 


THE  MISSION  OF  ST.  IGNATIUS— FATHER  MAR- 
QUETTE—HIS  CHAPEL. 

In  the  fall  of  1670,  Father  Claude  Dablon,  in  his  capacity 
as  Superior  of  the  Jesuits  on  the  \ipper  lakes,  selected  the 
point  north  of  the  strait,  then  first  called  Za  Pointe  de  St. 
Ignace^  as  the  site  of  a  new  missionary  establishment  in  the 
place  of  the  mission  at  La  Pointe  du  St  Esprity  on  Lake 
Superior,  then  on  the  point  of  being  abandoned.  One  of 
the  fathers,  most  likely  Dablon  himself,  spent  the  winter  on 
the  spot,  in  all  probability  within  the  limits  of  the  present 
village  of  St.  Ignace,  and  put  up  some  provisional  buildings. 

A  few  Indians  only,  wintered  in  the  neighborhood,  but  new 
and  permanent  settlers  were  expected ;  first  of  all  the  wander- 
ing Tionontate  Hurons.  Leaving  Green  Bay,  1656  or  1657, 
that  remarkable  clan,  then  consisting  of  about  500  souls,  had 
reached  the  Upper  Mississippi,  and  after  many  adventures 
and  reverses,  finally  settled  on  the  Bay  of  Shagawamigong — 
now  Ashland  Bay,  Wis. — where  Father  AUouez  met  them 
in  1665.  Since  the  autumn  of  1669,  they  had  been  under 
the  care  of  Father  Marquette,  who  was  now  (1671)  to  accom- 
pany them  back  to  the  Mackinac  country. 

The  party  arrived  at  St.  Ignace  towards  the  end  of  June, 
at  the  earliest,  for  at  the  great  gathering  of  Indians  and 
French  in  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  June  14th,  they  had  not  yet 
reached  the  Rapids. 

The  exact  site  of  Father  Marquette's  temporary  chapel 
and  hut  (cabane)  is  not  known.  It  appears,  however,  from 
some  incidental  remarks  in  that  Father's  report  and  in  a  later 
Relation^  that  those  humble  buildings  stood  at  some,  though 
not  a  very  considerable,  distance  from  the  Huron  fort  near 
which  the  second  church   was  built.     On   December   8tli. 


124 


ANNALS    OF   FOKT   MAOKINAO. 


1672,  Joliet  arrived  with  orders  from  the  Governor  of  New 
France  and  tl  9  Superior  of  the  Jesuits  in  Quebec  for  Father 
Marquette,  to  accompany  him  on  his  journey  of  discovery. 

The  party  spent  the  winter  in  St.  Ignace,  and  started  May 
ITth,  1673.  At  that  time  the  Hurons  in  St.  Ignace  num- 
bered 380  souls. 

Some  60  Otawas  of  the  Sinago  clan  had  lately  joined  them. 


THE  HURON  FORT.— SECOND  CHURCH. 

In  the  second  year  of  Marquette's  stay,  the  Tionohtates 
began  to  build  their  fort  or  palisaded  village.  According  to 
Lallontan's  plan,  it  occupied  about  the  middle  of  the  level 
ground  surrounding  East  Moran  Bay.  And  there  it  re- 
mained until  the  Hurons'  departure  for  Detroit,  about  1702. 
Soon  after  Marquette's  departure,  Fathtrs  Henry  Nouvel  and 
Philip  Fierson,  abandoning  the  old  site,  built  a  substantial, 
though  small,  church  and  an  adjoining  residence,  protected, 
After  the  fashion  of  the  times,  by  a  palisade  enclosure.  In 
this  new  church  Father  Marquette's  remains  were  interred, 
June  9th,  1677. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  about  its  position.  The  Jesuits'  re 
port  of  1678  places  it  in  close  proximity  to  the  Huron  fort. 
So  does  LaHontan,  in  1688.  Ills  plan  shows  it  south  of  the 
fort  or  village,  from  which  he  says :  "  It  is  only  separated 
by  a  palisade  enclosure." 

And  there  it  undoubtedly  remained  until  its  destruction 
by  fire,  about  1706. 


ANCIENT   MICllILIMAKINAC. 


125 


New 
rather 
jvery. 
iMay 

num- 

tbem. 


«    1  • 


[. 

ohtates 
[ling  to 
e  level 
}  it  re- 
1 1702. 
vel  and 
tantial, 
tected, 
e.    In 
terred, 

lits're 
fort, 
of  the 
>arated 

iction 


«     t 


ALGONQUIN  VILLAGE  AND  CIIIIRCII. 

Soon  after  Marquette's  departure,  several  clans  of  Otawas 
and  kindred  tribes — all  comprised  by  the  missionaries  under 
the  name  of  Algonquins — made  their  appearance  and  settled 
(»n  the  shore  of  Lake  Huron,  a  little  over  two  miles  from  the 
Jesuits'  residence,  accordingly  near  the  bluff  called  by  the 
Indians  the  "  She  Rabbit,"  south  of  the  "lie  Eabbit,"  or 
"  Sitting  Ilabbit "  (Rabbit's  Back).  Here  too  a  church,  and  a 
dwelling  house  for  the  Otawa  missionary,  were  built.  Ac- 
cording to  Hennepin,  who  officiated  in  it,  it  was  covered  with 
bark.  In  1679,  LaSalle  honored  it  with  his  visit.  Of  its 
later  history  nothing  is  known.  Besides  a  floating  popula- 
tion, sometimes  not  inconsiderable,  the  "Algonquin  village  " 
contained,  in  1677,  as  many  as  1300  souls,  the  principal  clan 
being  that  of  the  Kishkako. 


r^^^.^* 


126 


ANNALS    Ol'    KOUT   MACKINAC. 


REMOVAL  OF  THE  ALGOXQtJIN  VILLAGE. 

Lallontaii,  wlio  visited  St.  Igiiace  in  the  spring  -of  16S8, 
is  cilent  about  tliat  church  and  settlement,  hut  places  an 
Otawa  village  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the  Ilurons, 
on  East  Moran  Bay,  stating  at  the  same  time  that  during  his 
stay,  the  Otawas,  apprehending  some  trouble  with  their 
Huron  friends,  began  to  fortify  themselves  on  a  neighboring 
bluff.  From  this  it  would  appear  that  the  Algonquins,  or 
Otawas — a  name  then  applied  to  most  of  the  northwestern 
Algonquins — had,  within  the  last  few  years,  moved  about 
two  miles  south.  The  former  presence  of  an  Indian  popula- 
tion on  the  bluff  above  i.hat  part  of  St.  Ignace  popularly 
called  "  Vide  Poche,^^  is  proved  by  the  numerous  articles  of 
Indian  and  French  manufacture  ploughed  up  there  by  some 
of  the  present  settlers.  The  local  tradition  also  places  a  fort 
on  that  hight. 


▲NCIKNT    MICIIILIMAKINAO. 


127 


THE  OTAWA  VILLAGE  AT  GROS  CAP. 


In  1677,  or  shortly  before,  another  body  of  Algonqiiins — 
Otawas  properly  so  called — cjiine  to  swell  the  Indian  popula- 
tion of  St.  Ignace. 

They  settled,  it  appears,  on  tb-^  shore  of  Lake  Michigan, 
between  Point  La  Barbe  and  Gros  Cap.  Tiiis  assumption 
seems  necessary  to  reconcile  the  statements,  in  the  Jesuits' 
report  of  1678,  regarding  the  respective  distances  between 
their  residence  (near  the  Huron  village)  and  the  two  Indian 
settlements,  the  Algonquin  village  and  the  "  New  Otawa 
village."  The  existence  of  a  large  Otawa  settlement  near 
Gros  Cap,  in  1699,  is  certain  from  the  account  given  by  the 
Missionary  Buisson  de  St.  C6me  of  his  journey  from  Macki- 
nac to  the  Lower  Mississippi.  The  party,  of  which  the 
noble  Tonty  was  one,  sent  their  canoes  around  the  point  to 
the  Otawa  village,  and  walked  themselves  across  the  "port- 
age."   The  village  counted  then  about  1500  souls. 

In  1702,  these  Otawas  followed  Cadillac,  with  the  bulk  of 
the  Indian  population  of  St.  Ignace,  to  his  new  establish- 
ment on  the  Detroit  river,  but  soon  returned  to  their  old 
quarters,  and  finally  went  over  to  the  northwestern  shore  of 
Lower  Michigan,  where  their  descendants  are  still  living.  It 
was  during  their  second  stay  on  West  Moran  Bay  that  the 
famous  trader  who  left  his  name  to  it  lived  among  them. 
The  remains  of  their  dead,  together  with  wampum,  glass 
beads  and  other  articles  of  Indian  and  French  manufacture, 
are  frequently  found  in  the  Bandy  ground  at  the  head  of  the 
little  Bay. 


128 


ANMAL8   OF    FOUT    MACKIMAU. 


ST.  FRANCIS  BORGIA'S  CHAPEL 

For  tho  accommodation  of  the  two  settlements — the 
Algonquin  Village  on  Lake  Iluron,  and  the  new  Otawa 
Village  on  Lake  Michigan — Father  Henry  Nouvel  built  a 
church  of  bark  at  a  distance  of  about  two  and  a  half  miles 
from  the  residence  and  church  of  St.  Ignatius;  and,  in 
honor  of  the  first  general  of  the  society  who  sent  mission-* 
arios  to  America,  named  it  the  church  of  St.  Francis  Borgia. 
There,  with  Father  Enjalran,  he  passed  the  winter  of  1677-8, 
in  a  wigwam  adjoining  the  chapel,  receiving  and  instructing 
daily  frequent  visitors  from  both  villages.  We  do  not  know 
how  long  that  chapel  remained  in  use. 

Duluth,  who  spent  the  winter  of  1680-1  in  St.  Ignace, 
still  gives  Father  Enjalran  tho  title  of  missionary  of  St. 
Francis  Borgia. 

The  (surmised)  removal  of  the  Algonquins  from  the  Rab- 
bit Buttes  must  have  made  the  position  of  the  chapel  isolated, 
as  it  was  no  longer  on  the  thoroughfare  between  the  two 
settlementa. 


THE  FRENCH  VILLAGE. 

The  presence  of  French  settlers  at  St.  Ignace,  is  first  men- 
tioned at  the  occasion  of  Father  Marquette's  burial.  Accord- 
ing to  the  report  of  the  following  year  (1678),  the  singing  at 
the  church  of  St.  Ignatius  was  alternately  in  Latin,  Huron  and 
French.  The  fur  and  corn  trade  kept  pace  with  the  increase 
of  the  Indian  population.  LaSalld's  arrival  on  the  Griffon 
(1679),  caused  quite  a  stir  in  the  commercial  metropolis  of 


ANCIKNT    MllHIMMAKINAC. 


129 


tlio  West,  fur  iiotliiii<^  less  tliiiii  tliut  tho  village  of  St.  J^iuico 
was,  and  reiiuiineci,  until  supj)lanto(l  l>y  I)i!trolt. '  llonnepin, 
who  "winteroil  at  the  post  (ir)SO  -1),  mentions  his  enrolling 
forty-two  traders  into  a  reli«j;ioUH  confrati'rnity.  Lallontaii 
locates  the  houHes  of  the  French  settlers  in  two  or  three  rows 
along  the  hend  of  the  sliore,  south  of  the  Jesuits'  residence. 
As  a  matter  of  eouno,  the  whole  French  population,  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  lawless  eourcurs  de  bols^  disappeared 
with  the  rcnuval  of  the  Indians  to  Detroit. 


E^--^** 


S^:  '- 


:a*<*-t*"i*S*» 


■^I^U:;-  f. 


isgr 


.■**-! 


ANCIENT  NAMES  OF  RIVERS,  LAKES,  ETC. 


Lake  Ontario. — Champlain  called  it  "  Lac  St.  Louis  /  " 
Count  de  Froiitenac,  in  1674,  called  it  "  Ontario  ;  "  on  San- 
son's map,  1679,  it  appears  ^''Ontario  ou  Img  de  St.  Louis ;  " 
it  had  also  the  name  "  JFrontenac ,  "  Hennepin  called  it 
"  Ontario  or  J^rontenao  ;"  Tonti  and  Father  Membre  call  it 
^^Lake  Fro7itenaG;"  on  De  L'Isle's  maps,  1700  and  1703,  it 
appears  as  "  Lao  Ontario." 

Lake  Erie. — This  name,  says  Mr.  Baldwin,  was  derived 
from  the  tribe  of  Eries,  on  the  south  shore ;  the  same  tr^be 
was  also  called  the  Gat  nation.  Hennepin  called  it  "  Erie^" 
also  ^^Gonty;  "  and  Sanson's  map,  1679,  gives  it  "  Erie  Lao}  " 
Membre  called  it  ^^de  Gonty;"  De  L'Isle's  maps  give  it 
''  Lac  Erie:' 

Lake  Huron.  —  Champlain  called  it  "  Mer  Douce  /  " 
Father  Membre,  as  well  as  Hennepin,  called  it  ^^  Lake 
Orleans ;''  De  L'Isle  maps,  1703  and  1718,  give  it  "Zac 
Huron  ou  Michigane  /  "  on  his  map  of  1700,  it  appears  as 
"  L.  des  Hurons." 

Lake  Superior. — Marquette's  map  gives  it  "  Lac  Sujperieur 
ou  de  Tracy  I '^  Hennepin  called  it  ^^  Lake  Gonde;'''  on  De 
L'Isle's  maps  it  is  "  Lac  Stiperieur ;  "  Senex's  map,  1719, 
and  Coxe's  of  1721,  call  it  *-^  Nadouessians^'* 

Lake  Michigan. — Marquette,  Dablon,  and  LaSalle,  called 
it  the  lake  of  the  ^^llinois;"  Claude  Allouez,  in  1676, 
reached  this  lake  Oii  the  eve  of  St.  Joseph ;  he  said  "  we 
give  it  the  name  of  that  great  Saint,  and  shall  henceforth 

131 


I."'  'S. 


I    ' 

a 


li     ^ 


132 


ANNAL9   OF   FORT    MACKINAC. 


call  it  "  Lake  St.  Joseph; "  Allonez  was  the  first  to  givo 
it  the  name  of  ^^Lake  Machihiganing ;  "  LaSalle  and  Father 
Membre  call  it  '•^ Lake  Dauphin ;^^  St.  Cosme  called  it 
^^Miesitgaiiy^  and  also  ^^  Missigan;^^  Marest  was  one  of  the 
first  to  call  it  Lake  Michigan. 

Note. — The  name  as  spelled  by  Allouez  comes  nearest  the 
Indian  pronounciation,  which  is  Mashiiganing  or  Mishii- 
ganing^  the  double  i  being  pronounced  e-e. 

The  term  signifies  "a  clearing,"  and  was  first  applied  to 
the  north-western  shores  of  Lower  Michigan  where  there 
were  large    ncient  clearings. 

Lake  St.  Glair. — Hennepin  wrote  it  "x9^.  Glare  ;"  or  the 
map  of  De  L'Isle,  of  1700,  it  is  "Z.  de  Ste.  Glair e  ;"  on  his 
iMi\\>^  of  1703  and  1718,  it  appears  "Z«c  Ganatohio  ou  Ste. 
Glaire.^^  Shea  says  "  it  received  its  name  in  honor  of  the 
founder  of  the  Franciscan  nuns,  from  the  fact  that  LaSalle 
reached  it  on  the  day  consecrated  to  her." 

Mississippi  River. — One  or  more  of  the  outlets  of  this 
river  was  discovered  in  the  year  1519,  by  the  Spanish  officer, 
Don  Alonzo  Alvarez  Pineda  /  he  named  the  river  ''^Rio 
del  Espiritu  Santo.^'  De  Soto  named  it  "Z'^  Rio  Ch'and& 
del  Florida?"*  Marquette,  on  his  map,  gave  it  the  name 
"^e  la   Grnception  ;^^    he  rlso    used  the    name  Missipi. 

LaSalle,  ■  fe  iibre,  Hennepin,  and  Douay  called  it  the  "Co^ 
hert;^^  Joutu  -aid  the  Indians  called  it  ^^  Meechassippi  l"*^ 
but  he  called  it  the  ^^Golhert  or  Mississippi;^^  on  De  L' Isle's 
map  it  is  ^^ Mississippi^^  and  ^^S.  Louis;''''  Allouez  first  speaks 
of  it  as  ^^Messipi  "  and  again  as  the  ^^Messi-sipi  y"  St.  Cosme 
calls  it  ^^Mioissipi.^^ 

Note. — The  name  of  the  river,  in  the  principal  Algonquin 
dialects,  is  "  Mishisibi  "  (pronounced  Me-she-se-he)  meaning 
"large  river." 

The  translation  "  Father  of  Waters  "  is  a  poetical  license. 


ANCIENT   NAMES   OF    RIVERS,    LAKE8,    ETC. 


133 


Missouri  River. — Marquette  called  it  the  ''''PekiianoiXi^'* 
meaning  muddy  watery  the  Recollects  called  it  "  the  River 
of  Ozagesf^  Membre  called  it  the  ''^  Osage;''''  on  De  L'lsle's 
maps,  1703,  1718,  it  is  "^e  Missouri  ou  de  R.  Pekitanoni;^^ 
Coxe  called  it  "  Yellow  River"  or  '•'■River  of  the  Massorites." 

Ohio  River. — Marquette  called  the  lower  Ohio  ^'Ouahous- 
kigmif  Joutel  called  it  ^''Douo  or  Abaoha;''''  from  the  mouth 
of  the  Ohio  to  the  Wabash  and  up  tiiat  stream  was  known 
as  the  ^^Ouabaohe,"  so  it  was  called  by  Membre,  St.  Cosme, 
and  LaHontan.  Above  the  Wabash,  the  Ohio  was  more 
particularly  known  as  '''Ohio  ou  Belle  Riviere^''  the  river 
is  so  called  on  De  L'lsle's  map,  1703.  Evans,  in  1755,  calls 
it  "  Ohio  or  Alleghany  or  La  Belle." 

Illinois  River. — Marquette  speaks  of  it,  but  gave  it  no 
name ;  on  Franquelin's  map  it  appears  ^'Riviere  des  Ilinois 
ou  Macopinsf  LaSalle  called  it  the  ^'Seignlai;''^  Fathei-s 
Hennepin  and  Membre  the  ^* Seignelay ;''''  Dablon  not  only 
applied  to  one  of  the  upper  branches  of  the  Illinois  (the 
Desplaines)  the  name  '''St.  Louis^"  but  to  the  continuation, 
the  Illinois  itself ;  Coxe  called  it  the  ^^Chicagou;''^  De  L'lsle's 
map,  1718,  gives  it  '''•  Riv.  des  Ilinois." 

Des  Plaines  River. —  LaSalle,  in  1680,  called  the  Des- 
plaines the  ''^Divine  River;"  Membre  and  Charlevoix  did 
the  same.  La  SaJle  afterward,  however,  called  it  the  '•'Che- 
cagou."  Dablon  called  it  "-6^^.  Louis  River"  including, 
perhaps,  the  continuation,  the  Illinois;  Franquelin's  map, 
168^,  gives  it  ^^Peanghichia."  The  river  was  frequently 
called  the  ^^Chicagou;"  see  De  L'lsle's  map,  1718,  and 
D'Anville's,  1755. 

Chicago,  a/iid  River.  —  Marquette  called  it  ^''Portage 
River ;"  LaSalle  applies  the  name  "  Checago "  to  this 
locality,  but  his   Checago  River  was  generally  the  Des- 


'  t 


Si 


il    I 


134 


ANNAL3    OF    FORT   MACKINAC. 


plainest  Franquelin's  map,  1684,  gives  to  this  locality  or 
river  the  name  of  ^^ Cheagoumsinany^  and  to  anotlier  stream 
"^.  Chekagouf^  Tonty,  in  1685,  says  that  he  arrived  at  the 
''Fort  of  Checagour  St.  Cosme  calls  it  "  CUkagou,''  ''Chi- 
cagu^'*  ^^Chicaqw^^^  and  also  "  ChicagS.'^^  LaHontan,  1703, 
has  it  "  ChegakouP  Senex,  1710,  gives  it  ^^Checagou;''^  De 
L'Isle's  maps  have  it  "  Ghecagou^'*  also  "  Chicagou  f*  Moll, 
1720,  gives  it  "  Ghekakou; "  Charlevoix,  "  ChicagouP 
Col.  De  Peyster  speaks  of  it  as  ^^Eacheoagou^^^  and  again 
as  ^^Eschicagou^  a  river  and  Fort  at  the  head  of  Lake 
Michigan."  Popple's  atlas,  1733,  has  it  '•^Fort  Miamis 
ou  Ouamis;^^  Mitchell,  1755,  "^.  and  Port  Ghicagou^^^  and 
Sayer  &  Bennett's  map,  1797,  says  '^Point  Ghicago  Hiver.^* 

Sandusky  Bay. — On  De  L'Isle's  map,  1718,  it  appears 
^^Lao  San-dou-skeP 

Saginaw  Bay. — On  De  L'Isle's  maps,  1703  and  1718,  it 
appears  ^^Baye  de  Saguina^'*  and  ^^Baye  Saguinamf  Coxe 
called  it  the  ^''SakinamP 

Note. — "  Osaginang^'*  or  "  Osakinam^g,^^  is  the  Indian 
name,  derived  from  "  Osagi^"*  or  "  OsakV* 

The  Sacs  lived  on  the  Saginaw  and  Titibewasse  before 
removing  to  Wisconsin. 

Patteraon^s  Point. — A  rocky  point  of  land  on  the  north 
shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  some  sixty  miles  frona  Mackinac,  is 
so-called,  from  the  fact  that  Mr.  Charles  Patterson,  one  of 
the  principal  members  of  the  Northwest  Fnr  Company,  with 
all  his  crew,  was  there  drowned  about  the  year  1788. 

Marquette  River. — On  De  L'Isle's  map,  1703,  it  is  "  R. 
Marquetf^^  Charlevoix  called  it  ^^ River  Marquette^'*  or 
*'  River  of  the  Black  RobeP 

# 

hU  Royal^  Lake  Superior. — On  De  L'Isle's  maps,  1700 
and  1703,  it  appears  "  1.  Monong  /  "  Coxe  calls  it  ^''MinongP 
Note. — "  Minong  "  is  the  Indian  name. 


»> 


I  north 
lac,  is 
[no  of 
I,  with 


j> 


or 


ANCIENT   NAMB8   OF   KIVERS,    LAKES,    ETO. 


136 


MichilimaGkinac. — Marquette  called  it  ^^  Michilimalci- 
nongi^^  Hennepin  and  Membre  speak  of  it  as  ^^  Mueili- 
makinak;  "  Joutel  called  it  "  Micilimaquinay  /  "  De  L'lsle's 
map,  1703,  calls  it  "  Isle  et  Habitation  de  Missilimakinacy 

Note. — Marquette  came  nearest  the  Indian  pronunciation 
of  the  word,  which  is  "  MishinimakinangP 

The  change  of  "  n "  into  "  ^,"  by  the  French,  is  frequent 
in  Indian  names. 

Oreen  Bay. — Marquette  called  it  "  Bay  of  the  Fetid  ;  '* 
Hennepin  and  Membre  did  the  same.  Marquette  says  the 
Indians  called  it  ^^  Salt  Bay  j  "  St.  Cosme  called  it  ^^  Bay  oj 
Puantaj^^  on  De  Ulsle's  maps,  1700  and  1718,  it  appears 
as  "  Baye  des  Puams?' 

Milwaukee  River. — Membre  calls  it  "  Melleoki  / "  St. 
Cosme  termed  it  "  Melwarik  ;  "  on  De  L'lsle's  map,  of  1718, 
it  is  called  "  MelleU:' 

Note. — "  Minewag  "  is  the  Indian  name. 

Fox  Biver  of  Illinois. — Joutel,  on  his  map,  gives  it  "Pd- 
tesGouy;  "  St.  Cosme  calls  it  "  Pistrui  y  "  Charlevoix  calls  it 
"  Pisticoui.^* 

Wisconsin  River. — Father  Marque rte  called  it  the  "  Mes- 
eonsing;"  Hennepin  quotes  the  Indians  as  calling  it  the 
^^Ousconsin^^  or  ^^Misconsin.^^  Membre  called  it  the  "J/<w- 
concing  /  "  St.  Cosme,  the  "  WesconsinJ*^ 

Note. — The  Indian  name  is  "  Wishkdsing,^^  the  "o"  having 
the  nasal  sound  of  the  French  "  on.'* 


1700 
\ong.^* 


136 


ANNALS    OF   FORT   MACKINAC. 


FRENCH  AND  BRITISH  OFFICERS. 

The  following  named  officers  were  at  Fort  Micliilimackinac 
on  the  dates  given ;  their  names  are  the  only  ones  (of  French 
and  British  officers)  which  appear  in  the  old  and  official 
records : 

1742,  12th  Augu8t. 

MONS.  DE  BlAINVILLB, 

Commandant  of  Michilimackinac. 
1744,  6th  January. 

MONS.  DB  ViVBHBVET, 

Commandant  of  Michilimackinac. 
1744,  11th  July. 

DE  RaMELIA, 

Captain  and  King's  Commandant  at  Nepigon, 
1746,  nth  July,  and  1747,  23d  May. 

DUPLBSSIS  DB  MORAMPONT, 

King's  Commandant  at  Cammanettigsia. 

1746,  S5th  August,  and  1746,  29th  June. 
NOYELLB,  Jr., 

Second  in  Command  at  Michilimackinac. 

1746,  25th  August. 

Louis  db  la  Coune. 

Captain  and  King's  Commandant  at  Michilimackinac. 

1747,  7th  February,  20th  June  and  1st  September. 

MoNB.  db  Noyblle,  Jr., 

Commandant  of  Michilimackinac. 

1748,  28th  February,  1749,  11th  March  and  Slst  June,. 

MoNS.  JAcquES  Leoardeur  db  St.  Pibrrb, 

Captain  and  King's  Commandant  at  Michilimackinac. 

1749,  27th  January.  -   * 

Louis  Lbgaiideur, 

Chevalier  Je  Repentigny, 

Second  in  Command  at  Michilimackinac. 


I 

If 


FKENCU    AND   lililnsil    OFFICEB8. 


137 


»  t 


kinac 
rencli 
f[icia] 


•; 


cmac. 


mac. 


1749,  20th  August.  ; 

MONS.  GoDEPnOY, 

Officer  of  Troops. 

1750,  34th  March,  and  1753,  4th  Juno. 

MoNs.  Dupi.Essis  Faber, 

Captain  and  King's  Commandant  at  Michilimackinac 
1761.  8th  October.         '     "'  '''  "''"'  ''^'  """^^^^^  ""'^^  ''  ^t.  Loui*.' 
MoNS.  DuPLESsis,  Jr., 

1753,  4.h  Juno.       ''^°°"''™^°""»"0"'M'o'"li-»ackin,«. 
MoNs.  Beaujeu  db  Villemonde, 

1758  i«n   T  ,        .^'''''''  "'"'^  ^'°°''  ^'""^^^^^^^  at  Camanitigousa. 
1758,  18th  July,  and  1754,  15th  August. 

MoNs.  Marin, 

King's  Commandant,  Post  of  La  Bale 

'''''  and  nlr  n '.V''  ''''' '''''  ''^  ^^^"^-^'  ^^th  June,  16th  July 

Ztllr^    ''''  ''''• ''''  '"^^'^ '''''  ''^^  ""^y " 

MONS.  DB  BbAUJBU  DB  ViLLBMONDE. 

Captain  and  King's  Commandant  at  Michilimackinac 
1764,  8th  July,  and  1755,  25th  May. 
MoNs.  Heubin. 

17M  9lh  Januaiy.  ^'""'"'  ""  ''""'''  «''"""''»<""^'  ««  Miohllta«kinac. 
Louis  Leoardeur, 

Chevalier  de  Repentigny. 
1755   e4th  August,  ^^°g's  Commandant  at  the  Sault. 

Louis  Leoardeur 

Chevalier  de  Repentigny, 
1766.  28th  April.  lieutenant  of  Infantry. 

Charles  de  L'Angladb, 

.,*.-   .  Officer  of  Troops. 

1766,  l9thJune. 

MoNs.  Hbrtblle  Bbaubaffin, 
King's  Commandant  at 


. ; 


138 


ANNALS    OF    FOKT    MACKINAC. 


1756,  19th  July. 

MONS.  COUTBROT, 

Lieutcuaat  of  Infantry. 
1758,  2d  July. 

MoNS.  DE  L'Anqladb, 

Second  in  Command  at  Michilimackinac 
1758,  18th  July. 

Louis  Leoakdbur, 

Chevalier  de  Repentigny, 

Officer  at  Michilimackinaa 
1774  to  1770. 

A.  S.  De  Petbtbr, 

Major  Commandiug  Michilimackinac  and  Dependencies. 

1779  to  1782. 

Patrick  Sinclair. 

Major  and  Lieutenant-Governor, 

Commanding  Michilimackinac  and  Dependencies. 

1782  to  1787,  10th  May. 

Daniel  Robertson, 

Captain  Commanding  Michilimackinac  and  Dependencies. 

1784,  81st  July. 

Phil.  B.  Fry, 

Ensigo  8th,  or  King's  Regiment 
1784,  8l8t  July, 

GsoRas  Clowes, 

Lieutenant  8th,  or  King's  Regiment 

1791,  15th  November. 

Edward  Charleton, 

Captain  5th  Regiment  Foot, 

Commanding  Michilimackinac 
1791,  15th  November. 

J.  M.  Hamilton, 

Ensign  5th  Regiment  Foot 

1791,  15th  November.  ,       , 

Benjamin  RocHA. 

Lieutenant  5th  Foot 

1791,  15th  November. 
H.  Headowe, 

Ensign  5th  Foot 


aciet. 


icies. 


acies. 


. 


EARLY  MICHIGAN. 


Thb  first  European  Settlement  within  the  limits  of  the 
State  of  Michigan  was  by  the  French. 

In  1641,  Fathers  Charles  Raymbault  and  Isaac  Jogues, 
upon  the  in  viiation  of  the  Ojibwa,  visited  the  rapids  of  the 
St.  Mary's  River.  Untoward  circumstances  prevented  the 
establishment  of  a  mission. 

The  first  white  men  who  passed  the  rapids,  entered  Lake 
Superior,  and  coasted  along  the  whole  extent  of  the  south- 
ern shore  of  Lake  Superior,  were  Dcs  Groseillers  (famous 
for  his  later  exploits  on  Hudson  Bay)  and  another  young 
Frenchman.  They  spent  the  winter  of  1659-60  in  Northern 
Wisconsin  and  Eastern  Minnesota,  and  in  the  following  sum- 
mer returned  to  Canada  with  three  hundred  Indians  and 
200,000  livres'  worth  of  fur. 

Father  Renatus  (Ren6)  Menard  was  the  first  Jesuit  who 
labored  for  some  time  among  the  Indians  in  Upper  Michigan. 

His  stay  on  Keweenaw  Bay  lasted  from  October  15th, 
1660,  to  July  13th,  1661.  About  a  month  later  he  perished 
during  an  attempt  to  reach  the  Huron  Settlement  on  the 
headwaters  of  the  Black  River  (Wisconsin). 

In  1665,  Father  AUouez  coasted  along  the  south  shore  of 
Lake  Superior  on  his  w&y  to  Shagawamigong  (Chegoime- 
gong),  where  he  founded  a  mission.  Its  site  was  at  the  'ead 
of  Ashland  Bay,  Wisconsin. 

In  1668,  Father  James  Marquette  reached  the  Sault,  where 
be  was  joined  by  i^'ather  Claudius  Dablon.  The  settlement 
of  Michigan  begins  at  this  period. 

139 


140 


ANNALS   OF    FOKT   MACKINAC. 


1  ' 


Under  f.iie  French  and  British  dominion,  the  territory  was 
associated  with  the  Canadas,  but  became  part  of  the  territory 
of  Virginia  at  the  close  of  the  war  of  independence,  although 
it  was  not  formally  occupied  by  the  United  States  until  1796. 
Virginia  had  in  the  meantime  ceded  to  the  United  States  all 
of  her  territory  northwest  of  the  Ohio  River,  and  Congress, 
by  the  historical  "Ordinance  of  1787,"  passed  July  13th  of 
that  year,  provided  for  its  governiaent  as  the  "Northwest 
Territory." 

The  first  seat  of  government  of  the  Northwest  Territory 
was  at  Chillicothe,  Ohio.  By  act  of  Congress  of  May  7th, 
1800,  the  territory  was  divided,  preparatory  to  the  admission 
of  Ohio  into  the  Union  as  a  State,  and  the  "Indiana  Terri- 
tory "  wac  erected,  with  the  seat  of  government  at  Vincennes, 
Indiana.  By  act  of  January,  1805,  the  Territory  of  Michi- 
gan was  set  off  from  the  Indiana  Territory,  the  seat  of  gov- 
ernment being  established  at  Detroit.  By  this  act,  the 
southern  boundary  of  Michigan  was  fixed  by  a  line  drawn 
due  east  from  the  southerly  bend  or  extreme  of  Lake  Michi- 
gan until  it  intersects  Lake  Erie,  and  the  western  boundary 
through  Lake  Michigan  and  thence  due  north  to  the  north- 
ern boundary  of  the  United  States.  This  included  on  the 
south  a  strip  of  territwy,  now  forming  a  part  of  the  State 
of  Ohio,  and  did  not  include  the  northern  or  Upper  Penin- 
sula of  the  now  State  of  Michigan. 

In  the  year  1835,  the  people  of  Michigan  took  steps  for 
forming  a  State  Government.  The  admission  of  the  State 
into  the  Union  was  delayed  until  1837,  chiefly  in  consequence 
of  a  disagreement  in  regard  to  the  southern  boundary ;  the 
State  of  Ohio  laying  claim  to  the  strip  of  territory  previously 
referred  to,  which  it  was  claimed  on  the  other  hand  was 
within  the  Territory  of  Michigan,  and  which  embraces  within 
its  limits  the  present  City  of  Toledo.  The  dispute  at  one 
time  threatened  an  armed  collision,  and  military  forces  were 


EARLY    MICHIGAN. 


141 


innstered  on  both  sides,  in  wiiat  is  popularly  known  as  the 
*' Toledo  warr."  The  difficulty  was  settled  by  the  act  of 
Oongrets  of  June,  1836,  lixing  the  disputed  boundary  in 
.  accordance  with  the  claim  of  Ohio,  giving  to  Michigan, 
instead,  the  territory  known  as  the  Upper  Peninsula. 

The  seat  of  government  remained  at  Detroit  until  1847, 
when  it  was  removed  to  Lansing. 

The  land  area  of  the  State  comprises  two  natural  divisions 
known  as  the  Upper  and  Lower  Peninsulas,  and  the  adjacent 
islands. 

The  Upper  Peninsula  contains  14,451,456  acres. 

The  Lower  Peninsula  contains  21,677,184  acres. 

There  aie  179  islands  included  within  the  boundaries  of 
the  State,  varying  in  area  from  one  acre  upward,  their  total 
area  being  404,730  acres. 

Bois-Blanc  Island  contains  21,351  acres. 

Round  Island  «^ontains  180  acres. 

Mackinac  Island  contains  2,221  acres. 


*  1' 


I 


142 


ANNALS    OF    FOMT    MACKINAC. 


GOYERNORS  OF  MICHIQAI^ 


undt;u  kkench  dominion. 

Samuel  Ciiamplain, 
m.  dk  montmaqny, 
iM.  d'Aillebout, 

^I.    DE   LaL'SON, 

M.  DE  Lauson  (son), 
M.  d'Aillebout, 
M.  d'Augknson, 
Baugn  d'Avaugouk, 
M.  DE  Mesey, 
m.  de  courcklle. 
Count  de  Fhontenac, 

M.    DE  LA  BaRUE, 

Marquis  de  Denonvii.le, 
Count        Frontenac, 

M.    DE  ^IEaES, 

M.  DE  Vaudreuil, 
M.  DE  Beauiiarnois, 
M.  DE  Galissonieue, 

M.    DE   LA   JONQUIEUE, 

M.    DU  QUESNB,  .... 

^I.  DB  Vaudrkuil  db  Cavaonac, 


under  hr1ti8h  dominion 

James  Murray 

Guy  Carleton, 
Frederick  IIaldimand, 
Henry  Hamilton, 
Lord  Dorchestbr, 


territorial  oovernors. 
Northwest  Territory. 


1022-1035 
1030-1047 
1048-1050 
1051-1056 
1050-1057 
1057-1058 
1058-1000 
1601-1003 
1003-1005 
1005-1072 
1072-1082 
1082  1085 
ie8r>-1080 
1689-1098 
1099-1703 
1703-1725 
1726-1747 
1747-1749 
1749-1752 
1752-1756 
1755-1703 


1763-1707 
1768-1777 
1777-1785 
1785-1786 
1786-1796 


Arthur  St.  Clair, 


1796-1800 


EAKI.Y    MKMIIOAN. 


143 


India  im  'J  'erritm'y. 
William  Henry  IIauuison, 


.    1800-1805 


1767 

[777 

785 

786 

I796 


f 


•  V 


Michirjan  Territory, 

William  Hull,  .... 

Lewis  Cass 

George  B.  Pouter,* 
Stevens  T.  Mason,  ea-oj/iV/'^, 


bNDEIl  state  AUTI 


Stevens  T.  Mason,    . 
William  Woodbuiuok, 
J.  Wright  Gordon, | 
John  8.  Barry, 
Alpheus  Felch, 
William  L.  Greenly.} 
Epaphroditus  Ransom, 
John  S.  Barry, 
Robert  McCLEiiLANo, 
Andrew  Parsons,} 
Kinsley  S.  Bingham, 
Moses  Wisner, 
Austin  Blair,     . 
Henrt  H.  Crapo, 
Henrt  p.  Baldwin, 
John  J.  Bagley.    . 
Charles  M.  Croswell, 
David  H.  Jerome, 
Josiah  W.  Begole,    . 
Russell  A.  Alger,     . 


ority. 


1805-1813 
1813-1831 
1831-1834 
1834-1835 


1835-1840 
1840-1841 
1841-1843 
1842-1846 
184G-1847 
1847-1848 
1848-1850 
1850-1852 
1852-1853 
1853-1855 
1855-1859 
1859-1801 
18G1-18G5 
1805-18G9 
1869-1873 
1873-1877 
1877-1881 
1881-1882 
1883-1884 
1885-1886 


*  Died  while  in  office,  July  6,  1834,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  then  Secretary  of 
the  Territory,  Stevens  T.  Mason. 

t  Lieutenant-Goveruor  acting  as  Qoveruor. 


^00 


III 


lU 


ANNALS  OF   FORT  MAOKINAO. 


HISTORICAL  EVENTS, 

CHRONOLOGICALLY  ARRANGED. 


1534.  James  Cartier,  a  Frenchman,  discovered  the  St. 
Lawrence  Kiver. 

1608.     Samuel  de  Champlain  founded  Quebec. 

:*.634.  Joliii  Nicolet  passes  the  straits  on  his  way  to  and 
from  Green  Bay. 

1642.     The  citv  of  Montreal  founded. 

1650-51.  The  Indian  settlers  of  the  neighborhood  to> 
gether  with  large  numbers  from  Manitoulin,  Thunder  Bay 
and  Saginaw,  mostly  Otawas,  intimidated  by  Iroquois  prowess 
retire  to  Green  Bay. 

1653.  Eight  hundred  Iroquois  warriors  pass  the  strait. 
Failing  to  take  the  Huron  fort  on  Green  Bay  after  a  pro- 
tracted siege,  they  break  np,  one  division  marching  south,  the 
other  sailing  northward.  The  former  are  cut  djwn  by  the 
Illinois,  the  latter  routed  by  the  Ojibwa,  Missisaki  and  Nig'k 
(Otter)  Indians,  on  Lake  Huron. 

1654.  Two  French  traders  pasc  St.  Ignace,  on  their  way 
to  Green  Bay,  they  return  in  1656  with  a  large  trading  party 

60  canoes)  of  Ilurons  and  Otawas. 

1665,  or  earlier.  Nicolas  Perrot  passes  on  his  first  visit  to 
the  Pottawatomi,  on  Green  Bay. 

1669.  November  11th,  Father  Allouez  passed  Point  St. 
Ignace,  un  his  journey  from  Sault  Ste.  Marie  to  Green  Bay  : 
he  relates  the  following  Indian  tradition  : 

They  say  that  this  island  is  the  native  country  of  one  of  tLeir  gods,  called 
"The  Great  Hare,"  who  created  the  earth,  and  that  it  was  on  this 
island  that  he  invented  the  nets  for  taking  fish,  after  having  attentively 


-^ 


HISTORICAL    EVENTS. 


145 


way 
I  party 

tsit  to 

It  St. 
Jay: 

sailed 
this 
lively 


considered  a  spider  while  constructing  its  web  for  catchiog  flies.  They 
believe  that  Lake  Superior  is  a  pond  made  by  the  beavers,  the  banks  of 
which  were  double  ;  the  first,  at  the  place  which  we  call  the  Sault,  the 
second,  five  leagues  lower  down.  In  coming  up  the  river,  they  say,  this 
same  god  first  encountered  the  second  embankment,  which  he  tore  entirely 
away  ;  and  for  this  reason  there  are  no  falls  or  turbulent  waters  at  these 
rapids :  as  for  the  first,  being  in  a  hurry,  he  only  walked  over  it  and 
trampled  it  to  pieces,  in  consequence  of  which  there  still  remain  large 
falls  and  boiling  waters. 

This  god,  they  add,  while  pursuing  a  beaver  in  the  upper  lake,  crossed 
at  a  single  step,  a  bay  eight  leagues  in  width.  In  view  of  so  powerful  an 
enemy,  the  beavers  thought  it  best  to  change  their  pliice  and  consequently 
withdrew  to  another  lake;  from  thence  they  afterward,  by  aid  of  the  rivers 
that  flow  from  it,  arrived  at  the  North  Sea,  intending  to  pass  over  to 
France;  but  finding  the  water  bitter  (salt),  they  lost  heart,  chansjcd  their 
intentions,  and  spread  themselves  among  'he  rivers  and  lakes  of  this 
country. 

This  is  the  reason  why  there  are  no  beavers  in  France,  and  why  the 
French  have  to  come  here  in  search  of  them. 

1670-71.  Father  Dablon,  or  another  Jesuit  (possibly 
Marquette),  winters  at  Michiliinackinac,  laying  the  founda- 
tion of  the  Mission  of  St.  Ignatius. 

1671.  End  of  June,  or  later.  The  Tionontate  Hurons^ 
with  Father  Marquette,  arrive  from  Shagawaniigong  (Ash- 
land Bay,  L.  S.) 

Autumn.  The  Otawas  of  Manitoulin,  on  the  war-path 
against  the  Sioux,  arrive  with  a  large  supply  of  arm* 
and  ammunition  lately  obtained  in  Montreal.  Joined  by 
the  Hurons  of  the  new  settlement,  and — on  Green  Bay — 
by  the  Pottawatomies,  Sacs  and  Foxes,  they  march  through 
northern  Wisconsin — a  well-armed  body  of  a  thousand  war- 
riors— and  confidently  attack  the  Sioux  in  the  St.  Croix 
Valley.  Utterly  defeated,  they  retreat  through  the  snow- 
qovered  woods,  amidst  sufferings  and  privations  that  lead  to 
acts  of  cannibalism.  The  heavy  loss  sustained  by  the 
Hurons,  who  bravely  covered  the  rear,  accountf  for  the 
diminished  numbers  of  the  tribe,  as  stated  by  Marquette. 


146 


ANNAL8    OF   FORT   MACKINAC. 


(1 


1672.  The  llurons  build  their  fortified  village  on  East 
Moran  Bay.  December  8th,  Joliet  arrives  and  winters  at 
St.  Ignace. 

1673.  May  17th,  Joliet  and  Marquette,  with  five  other 
Frenchmen,  start  on  their  voyage  of  discovery. 

1673  or  '74.  A  large  body  of  Ota  was  and  other  Algon- 
quins,  principally  Kishkakos,  coming  from  Manitoulin  and 
the  opposite  shore  settle  near  Rabbit's  Back.  Father  Henry 
Nouvel,  Superior  of  the  Otawa  Missions,  takes  charge  of 
them.     Father  Philip  Pierson  becomes  pastor  of  the  Hurons. 

1674-75.  The  second  and  permanent  church  of  St.  Igna- 
tius and  the  Jesuits'  residence  are  built  at  the  side  of  the 
Huron  village. 

1676.  November  8th,  Father  Nouvel,  with  two  French 
companions,  starts  on  a  journey  to  Saginaw  Bay  and  the 
interior  of  Lower  Michigan.  He  arrives  near  the  head 
waters  of  Chippewa  River,  December  7th,  builds  a  chapel 
(the  first  on  the  Lower  Peninsula),  and  winters  with  the 
hunters  of  the  Amik  (Beaver)  Clan. 

1676,  or  thereabouts.  Another  large  body  of  Otawas 
arrive  and  settle  near  Gros  Cap,  on  Lake  Michigan. 

1677.  June  7th,  The  Kishkako  Indians,  accompanied  by 
a  number  of  Iroquois,  bring  Father  Marquette's  remains  to 
St.  Ignace,  where  they  are  interred,  on  the  following  day, 
within  the  Jesuits'  chapel. 

October.  Father  Enjalran  arrives  to  assist  Father  Nouvel 
in  the  Otawa  Mission. 

1677-78.  Father  Nouvel  builds  the  chapel  of  St.  Francis 
Borgia  in  the  woods,  between  Rabbit's  Back  and  Gros  Cap. 
Himself  and  Father  Enjalran  winter  there.  The  French 
and  Indian  trade  begins  to  assume  larger  proportions. 


HISTORICAL    EVENTS. 


147 


3d  by 

ins  to 

day, 

lonvel 

mcis 
Cap. 
rench 


. 


LASALLE,  HENNEPIN  AND   HENRY  DE  TONTY 

ARRIVE   AT  MICHILIMACKINAC,  ON 

THE  "GRIFB'ON." 

1679.  LaSalle,  on  his  first  expedition  to  Illinois,  arrives 
and  spends  some  days  at  the  settlement. 

TliG  most  remarkable  character  among  the  explorers 
of  the  Mississippi  Yalley,  in  the  latter  half  of  the  seven- 
teenth centnry,  was  Robert  Cavelier  de  LaSalle.  Viewed 
in  the  light  and  sense  of  worldly  enterprise,  he  is  to  be  con- 
sidered as  surpassing  all  others  in  lofty  and  comprehensive 
aims,  in  determined  energy  and  unyielding  courage,  both 
moral  and  physical.  He  faltered  at  no  laborious  undertak- 
ing; no  distrust  by  nerveless  friends,  no  jealous  envy  or 
schemes  of  active  enemies,  no  misfortune  damped  the  ardor 
of  his  plans  and  movements.  If  there  was  a  mountain  in 
his  track,  he  could  scale  it ;  if  a  lion  beset  his  path,  he  could 
crush  it.  Nothing  but  the  hand  of  the  lurking  assassin 
could  quench  the  fire  of  that  brave  heart.  We  may  briefly 
say,  that  LaSalle  was  born  in  the  city  of  Rouen,  France, 
November  22,  164:3.  The  name  LaSalle  was  borrowed  from 
an  estate,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Rouen,  belonging  to  his 
familv,  the  Caveliers.  Robert  was  educated  at  one  of  the 
Jesuit  seminaries,  and  as  one  of  that  order  he  continued  a 
short  time ;  but  in  1666,  he  came  to  America,  and  it  is  said 
that  he  made  early  exploration  to  the  Ohio,  and  was  possibl^ 
near  the  Mississippi  before  Joliet  and  Marquette's  voyage 
hither.  We  can  here  only  allude  to  a  few  items  and  facts  in 
LaSalle's  career.  It  was  a  marked  incident,  and  so  appear? 
on  the  historic  page,  when  LaSalle,  in  1679,  voyaged  to 
Green  Bay  on  the  "  Griffon,"  the  first  sail  vessel  of  the  lakes 
above  the  Falls,  and  which  he  had  biilt  on  the  bank  of 


148 


▲NNALS  OF   trORJ   MACKINAO. 


Cayuga  Creek,  a  tributary  of  the  Niagara.  But  that  busi- 
ness  trip  was  a  mere  pleasure  excursion  when  compared  with 
the  efforts  required  of  him  to  engineer  and  bring  about  cer- 
tain indispensable  preparations,  involving  ways  and  means, 
before  the  keel  of  that  renowned  craft  should  be  laid,  and 
before  she  spread  her  wings  to  the  breeze  and  departed  out- 
ward from  Buffalo  Harbor  of  the  future.  And  what  an 
unhesitating  morning-walk  was  th^t  of  his,  in  1680,  when 
he  set  out  on  foot  from  the  Fort  which  (not  him)  they  termed 
Broken  Hearty  where  Peoria  now  is,  to  go,  some  twelve 
hundred  miles  perhaps,  to  Fort  Frontenac,  where  Kingston 
now  is,  at  the  lower  end  of  Lake  Ontario.  His  unyield- 
ing purpose  was  not  to  be  delayed,  but  accelerated,  by 
the  avalanche  of  misfortune  which  had  fallen  on  him. 
He  could  not  wait  for  railroads,  nor  turnpikes,  nor  civil- 
ization :  he  could  not  even  wait  for  a  canoe  navigation, 
for  it  was  early  spring — in  the  month  of  March — when 
the  ice  still  lingered  by  the  lake  shores,  and  was  running 
thickly  in  the  streams.  So,  with  one  Indian  and  four 
white  men,  with  a  small  supply  of  edibles,  yet  with  a 
large  stock  of  resolution,  he  took  his  way.  The  journey 
was  accomplished,  and  ho  was  back  on  Lake  Michigan 
in  the  autumn  ensuing.  It  has  been  suggested  that  his 
own  enduring,  iron  nature,  as  it  might  be  called — ^unbending 
as  it  was  in  its  requirements  of  others — served,  perhaps,  to 
create  enmities  and  to  occasion  the  final  catastrophe.  It 
may  have  been  so ;  but  whatever  view  may  be  taken,  the 
doings  of  LaSalle  must  be  called  wonderful,  his  misfortunes 
numberless,  and  his  death  sad.  The  day  on  which  LaSalle 
was  killed  is  said  to  have  been  March  19,  1687. 


\ 


HIBTORIOAL   EVENTS. 


149 


HENRY  DE  TONTY. 


. 


-     L.     ♦ 


. 


There  is  much  of  romantic  interest  in  tlie  life  of  Henry 
de  Tonty  which  will  ever  attract  attention  to  the  story  of 
his  experience  in  the  wilds  of  America.  He  was  born  in 
Naples,  Italy,  in  or  near  the  year  1650.  In  a  memoir,  said 
to  be  written  by  him  in  1693,  he  says :  "  After  having  been 
eight  years  in  the  French  service,  by  land  and  by  sea,  and 
having  had  a  hand  shot  off  in  Sicily  by  a  grenade,  I  resolved 
to  return  to  France  to  solicit  employment."  It  was  at  the 
time  when  LaSalle  had  returned  from  America,  and  was 
getting  recruits  and  means  for  his  Western  enterprise.  The 
prime  minister  of  Louis  XIV.,  he  that  was  called  the  great 
Colbert,  knowing  the  soldier  Tonty  well,  specially  provided 
that  the  important  project  to  be  undertaken  by  LaSalle  should 
have  the  benefit  of  the  personal  aid  of  Tonty,  who,  though 
maimed  arid  single-handed,  was  yet  ready  to  go  forth  to  dare 
and  to  do.  Tonty  says:  "We  sailed  from  Rochelle  on  the 
14th  of  July,  1678,  and  arrived  at  Quebec  on  the  15th  of 
September  following."  We  can  not,  of  course,  attempt  to 
follow  the  brave  and  capable  lieutenant  of  LaSalle  in  his 
various  movements,  even  if  we  had  a  knowledge  of  them ; 
yet  we  may  say,  that  if  a  trustful  agent  or  manager  was 
needed  for  any  adventure  by  LaSalle,  Tonty  was  the  man  to 
fill  the  requirement.  If  a  fort  was  wanted,  he  was  the 
architect  and  overseer  to  construct  it ;  if  a  peaceable  envoy  to 
the  Indians  was  required,  he  was  the  gifted  embassador ;  if  a 
tribe  needed  chastisement  in  battle,  he  was  the  able  captain 
of  the  forces.  We  need  not  cite  examples.  Tonty  was  pro- 
vided with  some  sort  of  a  metallic  arrangement  as  a  substi- 
tute for  the  loss  of  part  of  an  arui ;  o^^d  he  was  known,  it  is 
said,  far  and  near,  among  the  tribes  ci  red  men,  as  "  Le  Bras 


150 


ANNALS   OF    FOKT    MACKINAC. 


de  Fer,"  or,  The  man  with  the  iron  arm.  If  we  rightly 
remember,  more  than  one  tale  has  been  constructed  by  novel- 
writ«i*8,  with  its  scenes  laid  in  the  Far  West,  presenting  Tonty 
as  the  principal  character.  In  long  time  past,  an  island  at 
the  lower  end  of  Lake  Ontario  was  known  as,  and  called,  the 
Isle  of  Toni/y^  being  named  after  our  hero — the  man  with 
the  iron  arm ;  but  the  name  was  afterward  changed  to  t'.at 
of  Amherst.  Whatever  the  deserts  of  the  titled  General 
Jeffrey  Amherst  may  have  been,  Henry  de  Tonty  was  the 
greater  man  of  the  two.  Tonty  died  at  Fort  St.  Louis,  on 
Mobile  Bay,  in  the  year  1704. 


LOUIS  HENNEPIN. 

Louis  Hennepin,  a  Recollect  of  the  order  of  St.  Francis, 
was  born  at  Ath,  France,  in  1645.  He  sailed  for  Canada 
in  1675,  on  the  "Saint  Honore."  LaSalle  was,  also  a  pas- 
senger on  the  same  vessel. 

Hennepin  left  Quebec  in  1678,  and  set  out  with  LaSalle  to 
explore  the  country  lying  south  and  west  of  Lake  Michigan. 

On  Cayuga  Creek,  a  tributary  of  the  Niagara  Eiver,  into 
which  it  empties  from  the  American  side,  five  miles  above 
the  Falls,  LaSalle  built  the  "Griffon,"  upon  which  they 
embarked,  setting  sail  August  7th,  arriving  atMichilimackinac 
August  27th,  1679. 

From  his  minute  description  of  the  bay,  the  shore,  etc.,  the 
Eev.  Edward  Jacker  says:  The  Bay  where  the  "Griffon** 
anchored  is  that  which  is  overlooked  by  two  steep  and  rocky 
bluffs  famous  in  Indian  tradition,  and  called  by  the  Indians 
"He"  and  "She"  Rabbit.  The  former  is  known  as  "Rab- 
bit's Back."     The  Kiskakon  Otawas  were  there  in  1677. 

1679.  Tiiey  arrived  at  Green  Bay  September  22d,  and 
from  there  LaSalle  sent  the  "Griffon"  back,  and  it  is  sup- 


HI810K1CAL    £V£MTS. 


151 


nac 
the 

ky 

ana 
ab- 

md 
lup- 


North  SallyPort. 


152 


ANNAL8   OF    FORT   MACKINAC. 


. 


posed  to  have  been  wrecked  oflE  the  entrance  to  Green  Bay, 
as  a  severe  storm  arose,  and  it  did  not  reach  Michilmackinac. 
After  various  mishaps  Hennepin  reached  the  Mississippi, 
which  he  ascended  to  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  in  the  spring 
of  1680. 

1680.  Duluth  and  Hennepin  arrive  from  the  Upper  Mia- 
eissippi,  by  way  of  Green  Bay.     They  winter  at  St.  Ignace. 

1681.  LaSalle  passes  St.  Ignace  on  his  second  jouriiey  to 
Illinois.  M.  De  Villeraye  is  appointed  commandant  by 
Frontenac  about  this  trme. 

1683.  The  fur  trade  declines  in  consequence  of  the 
danger  of  transportation,  occasioned  by  Iroquois  hostility. 
Hence  distress  among  the  traders,  and  dissatisfaction  among 
the  Indians. 

1684.  Mens.  De  La  Durantaye  in  command  at  Michili- 
mackinac.  The  French  and  Indian  forces  commanded  by 
Do  La  Durantaye,  with  Duluth  as  lieutenant,  and  Perrot  as 
"  manager  "  of  the  Otawas,  set  out  to  join  in  De  La  Barre's 
inglorious  expedition  against  the  Iroquois. 

The  Indian  estimation  of  French  power  and  valor  is  on  the 
wane.  During  De  La  Durantaye's  absence.  M.  De  La  Val- 
trie  acts  as  commandant. 

1685.  All  the  French  in  the  Upper  Lake  region  are  placed 
under  the  authority  of  the  commandant  of  Michilimackinac 
(M.  De  La  Durantaye).  This  measure  remaining  in  force 
until  the  abandonment  of  the  post.  Michilimackinac,  already 
the  commercial  emporium  of  the  Northwest,  becomes  also  its 
military  centre. 

Nicolas  Perrot  arrives  with  orders  from  the  governor,  pro- 
hibiting the  Otawas  to  march  against  the  Foxee  on  Green 
Bay.  He  succeeds  in  restoring  peace  between  the  two  tribea 
through  the  intermediation  of  an  Ojibwa  chief,  whose  daugh- 
ter (a  captive  among  the  Foxes)  he  saves  from  the  stake  and 
restores  to  her  father. 


\ 


HI8TOBI0AL   SYENT8. 


153 


i 


1686.  Dissatisfaction  among  tlie  Indians.  Most  of  the 
clans  are  leaning  towards  the  Iroquois  and  the  English,  as  the 
stronger  party  and  better  able  to  supply  their  wants.  The 
English  endeavor  to  bring  about  a  rupture  by  forwarding 
supplies  and  liquor  to  Michilimackinac. 

1687.  De  La  Durantaye  sets  out  with  the  French  force  to 
take  part  in  Denonville*s  expedition  against  the  Senecas.  He 
arrests,  in  the  neighboriiood  of  the  settlement,  thirty  English 
traders,  and  as  many  more  on  Lake  Erie.  The  timely  arrival 
of  Perrot  with  tlie  Green  Bay  Indians  obviates  the  necessity 
of  the  commandant  returning  with  the  prisoners,  too  numer- 
ous for  his  eaifcvy,  in  a  hostile  neighborhood.  He  proceeds 
to  Niagara,  where  the  Otawas  and  Ilurons,  marching  over- 
land from  Lake  Huron,  join  him ;  they  take  part  in  a  victori- 
ous attack  on  800  Iroquois  (July).  The  capture  of  those 
English  parties  probably  prevented  the  massacre  of  the 
French  in  Michilimackinac,  by  the  Hurons  and  Otawas. 

1688.  May.  LaHontan  amves  with  a  small  force  (from 
a  fort  near  the  outlet  of  Lake  Huron),  and  spends  a  month  in 
the  settlement.  He  obtains  with  difficulty  a  supply  of  corn. 
The  Otawas,  distrusting  the  Hurons,  fortify  themselves  on 
the  Bluff,  north  of  East  Moran  Bay.  Joutel,  Gavelier,  and 
other  survivors  of  LaSalle^'s  expedition  to  Texas  (having 
wintered  on  Green  Bay)  pass  the  settlement  on  their  way  to 
Quebec  and  France.  Kondiaronk,  or  Le  Kat,  the  great 
Huron  chief,  departs  at  the  head  of  one  hundred  men  against 
the  Iroquois,  but  plots  with  them  the  destruction  of  the  Ota- 
was by  stratagem.  The  plot  proves  abortive,  in  consequence 
of  Perrot  and  tlie  missionaries  gaining  knowledge  of  it ; 
Le  Eat  confesses  his  guilt.  Perrot,  returning  from  the  Mis- 
sissippi with  three  female  Ojibwa  prisoners  delivered  to  him 
by  the  Foxes,  snatches  five  Iroquois  warriors  from  the  stako^ 
to  which  they  were  condemned  by  the  Otawas,  in  spite  of  the 
commandant's  and  the  missionaries'  remonstrances. 


154 


ANNAL8   OF    FOKT   MAOKIMAO. 


1689-90.  The  Ota  was,  at  the  instigation  of  the  Huroni^ 
resume  tlieir  project  of  effecting  a  reconciliation  with  the 
Iroquois.  They  send  oack  to  the  Senecas  the  prisoners  taken 
from  them,  and  make  arrangements  for  a  meeting  in  the  fol- 
lowing year.  Father  De  Carheil,  being  informed  of  their 
plan,  warns  the  governor  by  a  messenger  sent  in  the  winter. 
Frontenac  prepares  a  large  convoy  to  reinforce  Michilimack- 
inac. 

1690.  Spring.  The  Otawas  take  steps  towards  an  alli- 
ance with  the  Iroquois,  and — as  a  token  of  good  will — medi- 
tate the  massacre  of  the  French  traders. 

End  of  June  or  beginning  of  July.  The  post  is  saved  by 
the  arrival  of  M.  De  La  Porte  Louvigny  (who  relieved  Du- 
rantaye  as  commandant),  with  Perrot,  and  with  an  Iroquois 
prisoner,  the  evidence  of  a  victory  gained  on  the  Otawa 
River  over  a  waylaying  party  (June  2d).  The  prisoner  is 
given,  for  execution,  to  the  vacillating  Hurons,  who,  dreading 
a  final  breach  with  the  Iroquois,  are  disposed  to  spare  him ; 
but  yielding  to  the  commandant's  peremptory  order,  brain 
him  after  a  short  torture. 

Perrot,  boldly  haranguing  the  chiefs,  assembled  at  the 
Jesuits'  residence,  reproaches  them  with  their  treachery,  and 
endeavors  to  show  them  the  folly  of  doubting  the  power 
of  the  French.     They  promise  to  amend. 

1691.  De  Courtemanche  and  De  Repentigny  arrive  with 
the  news  of  the  French  victory  over  the  English  fleet  before 
Quebec. 

1692.  Otawa  and  Huron  warriors  co-operate  in  driving 
the  Iroquois  from  the  St.  La.7rence,  and  in  the  invasion  of 
their  territory  by  detached  parties. 

August.  Two  hundred  Otawas  from  Michilimackinac 
arrive  at  Montreal  in  quest  of  munition. 

1693.  A  great  amount  of  fur  is  waiting  transportation ; 
on  account  of  the  Iroquois  infesting  the  Otawa,  the  Indiana 


III8TOKICAL    KVKNTS. 


155 


Soirth  Sally.Port. 


156 


ANNALS    OF    FORT    MACKiNAO. 


will  not  venture  the  journoy  without  a  sufficient  escort. 
Frontenac  being  informed,  despatches  the  Sieur  d'Argentouil 
with  orders  for  the  commandant  to  send  all  the  French  he 
can  spare  dovvn  with  the  convoy. 

August  4th.  Two  hundred  canoes  from  Michilimackinac, 
freighted  with  80,000  francs  worth  of  beaver,  arrive  at 
Montreal,  together  with  the  principal  chiefs  of  the  western 
tribes.  A  great  council  is  held,  and  the  Indians  return 
charmed  with  the  governor's  manner,  and  laden  with 
presents. 

1694.  July.  De  Louvigny  leaves  for  the  colony  with  a 
great  convoy  of  furs. 

The  Hurons  contemplating  a  removal,  are  again  suspected 
of  treacherous  intentions.  Opposed  in  their  purpose  by  the 
commandant  and  the  Otawas,  one  half  of  the  tribe  consent 
to  stay;  the  other  half  go  to  live  with  the  Miamis  on  the 
St.  Joseph  River.  (M.  Tilly  De  Courteraanche  commandant 
there,  since  1693.) 

De  La  Porte  Louvigny  is  superseded  by  De  La  Motte 
Cadillac,  the  last  commandant  of  "  Ancient  Michilimackinac." 
(Louvigny  becomes  afterwards  [1712]  first  commandant  of 
New  Michilimackinac,  commonly  called  "  Old  Mackinac") 

1695.  Cadillac  advises  the  governor  of  the  necessity  of  a 
grand  expedition  against  the  Iroquois  in  order  to  prevent 
the  defection  of  the  western  tribes.  Frontenac  contents 
himself  with  harassing  the  enemy,  in  which  he  is  aided  by 
Michilimackinac  Indians,  who  return  \vith  a  great  number 
of  prisoners. 

At  a  great  meeting  of  western  chiefs  in  Montreal,  Fron- 
tenac emphatically  gives  them  to  understand  that  they  must 
look  upon  every  French  officer,  residing  among  them,  as  sub- 
ject to  the  orders  of  the  one  in  command  at  Michilimackinac. 

The  officers  in  command  at  the  several  posts,  at  that 
period,  are:  Tilly  De  Courtemanche,  D' Ailleboust  I>e  Mantet, 


HISTORICAL    EVJ 


157 


D'Ailleboust  D'Argonteuil,  Dc  Lislo,  Vinoennes,  La  De- 
couverte,  and  Perrot. 

Le  Baron,  a  Huron  chief,  concludes  a  treaty  with  the 
Iroquois.  Cadillac  with  difficulty  succeeds  in  siiispending 
its  execution.  An  Indian  deputation  goes  to  Montreal  to 
insist  (as  advised  by  the  comman  Jant)  on  a  reduction  in  the 
prices  of  goods.     Frontenac  partly  satisfies  theni. 

The  French  court  unable  to  cope  with  the  evils  springing 
from  the  system  of  trading  licenses,  ineffectually  orders  the 
evacuation  of  the  post  and  tho  return  into  the  colony  of  all 
soldiers  and  traders  {coureura  de  hois\  in  *^he  West. 

1696.  The  Hurons  and  some  Otawas  are  already  hunting 
with  the  Iroquois. 

Cadillac  dispatches  a  war  party,  consisting  chiefly  oi 
Pottawatumies  and  Algonquins.  The  Iroquois,  though  warned 
by  the  Hurons,  lose  thirty  scalps,  an<i^  thirty-two  prisoners, 
who  are  brought  to  Michilimackinac.  Some  Hurons  found 
among  them  are  restored  to  their  tribe. 

In  consequence  of  the  Hurons'  machinations,  but  few 
Michilimackinac  Indians  take  part  Id  the  campaign  against 
the  Onondago  and  Oneida. 

D'Argentouil  starts  with  50  Frenchmen,  but  arrives  too 
late. 

Le  Baron,  with  thirty  Huron  families,  goes  to  settle  near 
Albany.  Kondiaronk,  now  permanently  gained  over  to  the 
French  cause  by  Father  de  Carheil,  prevents  the  rest  of  the 
tribe  from  following  them. 

1697.  Frontenac,  in  reply  to  the  king's  order  (of  1695, 
received  late  in  1696),  insists  on  the  posts  of  Michilimacki- 
nac and  St.  Joseph  being  retained,  with  a  garrison  sufficient 
to  keep  off  English  traders  (twelve  or  fifteen  soldiers  with 
an  officer),  and  on  twenty-five  canoe  loads  of  goods  be^'ng 
annually  sent  to  each  place.  His  advice  prevails  in  the  king'v 
council. 


15e 


ANNALS   OF   FORT   MA07<£INA0. 


Burners  of  an  impending  war  with  England  arriving, 
Cadillac  starts  with  a  great  number  of  Frenchmen,  and  three 
hundred  Sacs,  Pottawatomies,  Otawas  and  Hurons.  They 
arrive  in  Montreal  towards  the  end  of  August. 

1700,  September  8tli.  Kondiaronk  and  a  deputy  of  the 
four  Otawa  clans  sign  a  provisional  treaty  of  peace  with  the 
Iroquois,  at  Montreal. 

De  Gourtemanche  and  Father  Enjalran  go  to  visit  the 
other  western  tribes  and  persuade  them  to  accede  to  the 
treaty. 

1701.  Otawa  huncorfi  fight  a  party  of  Iroquois  who  tres- 
pass on  their  grounds,  and  bring  the  chief  to  Michilimacki- 
nac  as  a  prisoner. 

De  Gourtemanche  and  Father  Enjalran,  greatly  aided  by 
Kondiaronk,  bring  their  negotiations  with  the  tribes  to  a  suc- 
cessful issue.  Father  Enjalran  leaves  Michilimackinao  in 
June,  with  two  liberated  Iroquois  prisoners.  Gourtemanche 
starts  after  the  arrival  of  the  Indian  delegates,  with  a  fleet 
of  144  canoes. 

Sieur  De  La  Motte  Cadillac  founded  the  present  city  of 
Detroit,  building  Fort  Pontchartrain,  near  the  present  Jeffer- 
son avenue,  Shelby  and  Wood  bridge  streets. 

At  t)ie  great  meeting  convened  at  Montreal,  August  1st, 
for  the  conclusion  of  peace  between  ihe  Iroquois,  and  the 
French  and  their  allies  (Illinois,  Miamis,  Kickapoos^  Foxes, 
Wiimebagos,  Pottawatomies,  Menomoneos,  Otawas,  Ojih- 
was,  Hurons,  Algonquins,  Abenakis  and  others,  l>eing  rer-~e- 
sented),  Kondiaronk,  almost  in  a  dying  state,  maket  a  last 
speech  of  great  effect.  He  dies  the  following  nigljt,  and  is 
buried,  with  great  demonstrations  of  respect,  in  th^|>rinei^ 
church  of  Montreal. 

August  4th.  At  the  last  general  assembly  (1,300  Indiaoi 
being  present),  the  treaty  is  signed  by  thirty-eight  deputies. 

The  Otawas  of  Michilimackinac  ask  for  Father  Enjalran 


HISTORICAL    EVENTS. 


159 


1st, 

the 

^xes, 

ilast 
is 
lipal 


* 


BEV.  FATHER  EDTVABD  JACKER, 
Discoverer  of  Marquette's  Grave. 


UiOi 

lies. 
Iran 


I 


160 


ANNALB   OF   FORT  MAOKINAa 


and  Nicolas  Pcrrot,  and  insist  on  the  prohibition  of  the 
liquor  trade  in  tlieir  country. 

1702-3.  The  Hurons  and  a  part  of  the  Otawas,  upon 
Cadillac's  pressing  invitation,  remove  to  Detroit. 

1705.  The  remaining  Otawas  having  broken  the  peace, 
DeLouvigny  comes  to  bring  them  to  reason.  lie  returns  to 
the  colony  with  Iroquois  prisoners  given  up  to  him  by  the 
Otawas.  De  Vincennes  follows  with  the  chiefs.  They  apolo- 
gize to  the  Iroquois,  and  peace  is  restored. 

Not  a  single  Christian  Indian  remaining ;  the  Otawas, 
since  the  departure  of  the  Iluroi  ^  proving  unmanageable, 
and  the  licentiousness  of  the  bush-lopers  {coitreurs  de  hois) 
exceeding  all  bounds,  the  missionaries  (DeCarheil,  Marest, 
and  perhaps  Enjalran)  burn  the  church  and  house,  and  leave 
for  Quebec.  Governor  General  de  Yaudreuil  sends  orders 
to  all  the  French  at  Michilimackinac  to  come  down  to  the 
colony. 

1712.  Governor  General  de  Vaudreuil  sent  De  Louvigny 
to  re-establish  Fort  Michilimackinac,  which  he  did,  but  on 
the  south  shore. 

1721.  Peter  Francis  Xavier  Charlevoix  at  Michilimack- 
inac. 

1728.  Sieur  Marchand  Delignjry's  expedition  at  Mich- 
ilimackinac. 

1730.     Sieur  De  Buisson  in  command  at  Michilimackinac 

1759.  July  24th.  Fort  Niagara  surrendered  to  the 
British. 

September  18th.  Quebec,  the  capital  of  New  France 
(Canada),  surrendered. 

1760.  September  8th.  Montreal,  and  all  the  Frencn- 
Canadian  territory,  surrendered  to  the  British. 

1761.  September  28th.  British  troope  tirst  arrivea  at 
Michilimackinac.     Captain  Belfour,  of  the  80th  Kegiment, 


HISTORICAL   BVENT8. 


161 


on 


lac 

Ihe 


arrived  from  Detroit  with  a  detachment  of  the  60th  and 
80th  Regiments.  Leaving  Lieutenant  Leslie,  of  the  Royal 
American  or  60th  Regiment,  with  one  sergeant,  one  corporal, 
one  drummer,  and  twenty-five  privates  of  the  same  regiment, 
Captain  Belfour  and  his  party,  on  October  1st,  proceeded  to 
Green  Bay,  Wis. 

Although  the  British  occupied  and  controlled  Canada,  it 
was  not  formally  ceded  to  Great  Britain  until  1763. 

The  preliminaries  of  peace  were  signed  at  Fontaineblean, 
November  3d,  1762,  between  the  courts  of  France,  Spain 
and  Great  Britain.  By  the  definitive  treaty  signed  at  Paris, 
February  lOch,  1763,  by  these  three  great  powers,  together 
with  Portugal,  Canada  was  ceded  to  Great  Britain. 

Great  Britain  restored  to  Spain  the  territory  she  had  con- 
quered in  the  Island  of  Cuba ;  and  in  consequence  of  this 
restitution,  Spain  ceded  to  Great  Britain,  Florida  with  Fort 
St.  Augustin  and  the  Bay  of  Pensacola,  and  all  the  Spanish 
possessions  on  the  continent  of  North  America,  east  of  the 
Mississippi  River.  In  1783,  Great  Britain  retroceded  Florida 
to  Spain.  By  a  treaty  made  in  1819  (ratified  in  1821),  be- 
tween the  United  States  and  Spain,  Florida  was  ceded  by 
Spain  to  the  United  States,  the  latter  paying  $5,000,000. 

France,  by  an  act  passed  at  Fontainebleau,  November  3d, 
1762,  ceded  the  country  then  known  as  Louisiana,  to  Spain. 
The  cession  was  accepted  by  an  act  passed  at  the  Escurial, 
November  13th,  of  the  same  year.  Snain  retroceded  Louisi- 
ana to  France,  by  a  treaty  of  St.  Udefonso,  October  1st,  1800. 
France  ceded  Louisiana  to  the  United  States  in  1803,  the 
latter  paying  $15,000,000. 


I  at 
It, 


162 


ANNALS   OF   FOAT   MACKINAa 


CONSPIRACY  OF  PONTIAO. 

1763.  Under  this  conspiracy  eleven  posts  were  attacked, 
and  eight  captured. 

June  2d.  Fort  Miciiilimackinac  was  captured.  Tlie  gar- 
rison consisted  of  Captain  Etherington,  Lieutenants  Jamet  and 
Leslie,  and  about  thirty-five  men.  A  band  of  Chippewas, 
while  playing  a  game  of  ball  just  outside  of  the  Fort,  knocked 
the  ball,  as  if  by  accident,  so  that  it  fell  inside  the  stockade; 
the  players  rushed  after  it,  and  seizing  their  weapons  from 
squaws,  who  had  them  concealed  under  their  blankets,  and 
had  previously  entered  the  Fort  as  a  part  of  the  plot,  they 
raised  the  war-whoop  and  fell  upon  the  garrison.  Lieutenant 
Jamet  and  fifteen  men  were  killed.  Captain  Etherington  and 
Lieutenant  Leslie,  who  were  watching  the  game  of  ball,  and 
the  rest  of  the  garrison  were  taken  prisoners ;  they  were  after- 
wards ransomed  by  Lieutenant  Gorell  and  his  command  from 
the  Fort  at  Green  Bay. 

1779.  At  noon  Sunday,  Oct.  3d,  the  new  Fort  at  Detroit 
was  named  "  Fort  Lenault." 

Oct.  4.  Lieut-Governor  Patrick  Sinclair  arrived  at 
<*01d  Mackinaw." 

Oct.  1$.  Major  Arent  Schu/ler  DePeyster  left  Old  Mack- 
inaw at  5  p.  M.  for  Detroit,  on  board  His  Majesty's  armed 
sloop  Welcome,  Alex^^nder  Harrow,  Master. 

Oct.  20.     Major  DePeyster  arrived  at  Detroit  at  8  a.  m. 

Saturday,  Nov.  6.  Lieut.-Gov.  Sinclair  sent  a  detach- 
ment of  artificers  to  live  and  work  upon  Mackinac  Island. 
The  timbers  of  a  house  for  their  use  were  carried  over  with 
them,  on  the  sloop  Welcome. 

Major  DePeyster  with  a  view  of  building  a  Fort  there- 
upon and   removing  there    with  the    garrison   from   Old 


HISTORICAL    EVENTS. 


163 


Irined 

M. 

ktach- 

iland. 

with 

Ihere- 
Old 


^r 


{■ 


Mackinaw,  as  a  measure  of  safety  from,  the  Americans^  bad 
previously  secured  a  title  to  the  Island  from  the  Chippewa 
chief  Kitchienago,  who  occupied  it  with  his  band. 

1780.  Early  in  the  year  the  timbers  of  the  Catholic 
church  at  Old  Mackinaw  were  hauled  over  the  ice  to  Mack- 
inac Island  and  the  church  re-erected  in  what  is  now  the  old 
graveyard  on  Astor  street. 

Oct.  22.  John  Donald,  one  of  the  crew  of  the  sloop 
Welcome,  while  on  watch,  fell  from  the  wharf  at  the  island 
and  was  drowned.  He  was  buried  Oct.  24th,  at  Old  Mack- 
inaw. 

The  first  Government  whaff  at  the  island  was  about  sev- 
enty feet  west  of  the  present  one,  and  on  the  prolongation 
of  the  line  of  the  old  roadway  which  runs  from  in  front  of 
the  south  sally-port  down  through  the  present  Fort  gardens. 

The  bay  in  front  of  the  Fort  was  called  "Haldimand  Bay." 

Nov.  4.  Lieut.-Gov.  Patrick  Sinclair  removed  from  Old 
Mackinaw  to  Mackinac  Island. 

The  history  of  "Modern  Mackinac"  properly  begins  at 
this  date. 

Nov.  30.  The  sloops  Welcome  and  Angelica  and  the 
schooner  DePeyster  were  laid  up  for  the  winter  at  the  island' 
wharf. 

Dec.  21.  The  sloop  Archangel  was  moored  astern  of  '^e 
Angelica. 

During  several  of  the  previous  winters  some  of  the  Gov- 
ernment vessels  were  laid  up  in  the  Cheboygan  River,  where 
there  was  a  house  which  was  built  for  the  use  of  the  party 
in  charge  of  the  boats. 

There  was  also  during  the  same  period  a  "hay  camp"  on 
the  Cheboygan  River,  where  hay  was  cut  for  use  at  the  Fort. 

1781.  Jan.  5.  The  crews  of  the  vessels  removed  from' 
the  Welcome  into  a  block-house  which  they  had  built  upon 
the  island. 


164 


ANNALS   OF   FORT   MACKINAC. 


This  block-house  was  located  near  the  site  of  the  present 
Tillage  schoolhouse.  It  was  made  of  cedar  timbers  which 
were  sawn  over  *' saw-pits"  dug  ii.  the  woods. 


When  practicable  in  the  winter  of  1780-81,  the  troops 
were  engaged  in  hauling  over  the  ice  from  Old  Mackinaw  to 
the  island  the  barracks  and  other  buildings  belonging  to  the 
Government.  These  buildings  were  made  of  cedar  timbers. 
The  doors,  windows,  bricks,  provisions,  et  cetera^  were 
transported  in  boats  in  the  fall  of  1780  and  in  the  spring 
and  summer  of  1781. 

During  the  winter  of  1780-81  a  detachment  of  soldiers 
wintered  at  the  "  Pinery," — a  camp  on  Pine  River  about  16 
miles  north  of  St.  Ignace,  where  the  British  had  a  hay  and 
wood  camp. 

During  the  winter  of  1780-81  the  traders  made  prepara- 
tions for  removing  from  Old  Mackinaw,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1781  made  rafts  of  the  timbers  of  their  buildings  and  floated 
them  to  the  island, — transporting  their  goods,  et  cetera,  by 
boats. 


1781.  Thursday,  May  24.  Fh^at  occupation  of  the  Fort 
constructed  upon  the  Island  of  Mackinac  (a  part  only  of  the 
troops  mo\  'ng  in). 

The  Fort  was  on  the  site  of  the  present  one,  and  portions 
of  it  are  still  in  a  good  state  of  preservation. 

The  garrison  was  not  entirely  withdrawn  from  Old  Mack- 
inaw until  the  summer  c  1781,  when  all  the  Government 
property  had  been  moved  to  the  island. 

1783.  By  the  definitive  treaty  of  peace  between  Great 
Britain  and  the  United  States,  made  and  signed  at  Paris,  Sep- 
tember 3d,  1783,  by  David  Hartley  on  the  part  of  Great 
Britain,  and  by  John  Adams,  Benjamin  Franklin,  and  John 
Jay  on  the  part  of  the  United  States,  the  post  of  Michili- 


UI8T0RI0AL   EVENTS. 


165 


nt 


■r 


-I- 


mackinac  fell  within  the  boundary  of  the  United  States,  but 
under  vanous  pretenses  the  English  refused  to  withdraw  their 
troops,  and  occupied  it  with  other  lake  posts. 

1794.  By  the  second  article  of  the  treaty  of  amity,  com- 
mftrce  and  navigation,  between  Great  Britain  and  the  United 
States,  concluded  at  London,  England,  November,  19th,  1794, 
and  signed  by  Baron  Grenville,  on  the  part  of  Great  Britain, 
and  by  Hon.  John  Jay,  on  the  part  of  the  United  Sta^js 
(ratifications  exchanged  October  28th,  1795,  and  proclaimed 
February  29th,  1796),  it  was  stipulated  that  from  all  posts 
within  the  boundary  lines  assigned,  by  the  treaty  of  peace  to 
the  United  States,  the  British  troops  should  be  withdrawn  on 
or  before  June  1st,  1796. 

1795.  By  stipulation  13,  article  3,  of  a  treaty  of  peace 
between  the  United  States  and  the  tribes  of  Indians  called 
the  Wyandots,  Delawares,  Shawnees,  Otawas,  Chippewas, 
Pottawatomies,  Miamis,  Eel  Rivers,  Weas,  Kickapoos,  Pinke- 
shaws  and  Kaskaskias,  made  at  Greenville,  Ohio,  on  the  3d 
of  August,  1795,  and  signed  by  Gennral  Anthony  Wayne,  on 
the  part  of  the  United  States,  and  by  tne  Sachems  and  War- 
chiefs  of  the  said  tribes,  the  Indians  ceded  to  the  United 
States  "  the  post  of  Michilimackinac,  and  all  the  land  on  the 
island  on  which  that  post  stands,  and  the  main  land  adjacent, 
on  which  the  Indian  title  has  been  extinguished  by  gifts  or 
grants,  to  the  French  or  English  Governments ;  and  a  piece 
of  land  on  the  main  to  the  north  of  the  island,  to  measure 
six  miles,  on  Lake  Huron,  or  the  strait  between  Lakes  Huron 
and  Michigan,  and  to  extend  three  miles  back  from  the  water 
of  the  lake  or  strait ;  and  also,  the  island  ^^  Bois  Blanc,"  the 
latter  being  an  extra  and  voluntary  gift  of  the  Chippewa 
nation.*' 

1796.  October.  Two  companies  of  United  States  troops, 
under  the  command  of  Major  Henry  Bnrbeck,  with  Oaptain 
Abner  Prior  and  Lieutenants  Ebenezer  Massay  and  John 


166 


ANNALS   OF   FORT   MACKINAC. 


I 


Michael,  arrived  and  took  possession  of  the  post  of  Michili- 
mackinac. 

1802.  In  the  year  1800  the  Connecticut  Missionary  So- 
ciety sent  Rev.  David  Bacon  (father  of  tlie  late  Rev.  Dr. 
Leonard  Bacon,  of  New  Haven,  who  was  born  in  Detroit  in 
1802)  as  a  missionary  to  our  frontier;  he  arrived  at  Detroit 
August  11th,  180J,  where  he  was  entertained  at  the  house  of 
the  commandant,  Major  Thomas  Hunt,  U.  S.  A. 

Mr.  Bacon  left  Detroit,  with  his  family,  and  came  to 
Mackinac  in  June,  1802,  where  he  remained)  teaching  and 
preaching  until  August,  1804,  when  he  was  recalled. 

Rev.  David  Bacon  was  the  first  Protestant  who  preached 
at  Mackinac. 

1812.  June  18th,  war  with  Great  Britain  was  declared  by 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States  by  a  vote  of  79  to  40  in 
the  House,  and  19  to  13  in  the  Senate.  June  19th,  war  was 
formally  proclaimed  by  President  Madison. 


HISTORICAL    EVENTS. 


167 


8URKENDEF  OF  FORT  MICIIILIMACKINAC. 


♦       » 


'1 


Detroit,  August  4th,  1812. 

Sir— I  take  the  earliest  opportunity  to  acquaint  Your  Excellency  of 
the  surrender  of  the  garrison  of  Michiliranckinac,  under  my  command,  to 
his  Britannic  Majesty's  forces  under  the  command  of  Captain  Charles 
Roberts,  on  the  17th  ultimo,  the  particulars  of  which  are  as  follows:  On 
the  16th,  I  was  io^'>niied  by  the  Indian  Interpreter  that  he  had  discovered 
from  an  Indian  that  the  several  nations  of  Indians  then  at  St.  Joseph  (a 
British  garrison,  distant  about  forty  miles)  intended  to  make  an  imme- 
diate attack  on  Michilimackinac. 

I  was  inclined,  from  the  coolness  I  had  discovered  in  some  of  the  prin- 
cipal chiefs  of  the  Ottawa  and  Chippewa  nations,  who  had  but  a  few  days 
before  professed  the  greatest  friendship  for  the  United  States,  to  place 
confidence  in  this  report. 

I  immediately  called  a  meeting  of  the  American  gentlemen  at  that  time 
on  the  island,  in  which  it  was  thought  proper  to  dispatch  a  confidential 
person  to  St.  Joseph  (o  WAtch  the  motions  of  the  Indians. 

Captain  Michael  Dousman,  of  the  militia,  was  thought  the  most  suitable 
for  this  service.  He  embarked  about  sunset,  and  met  the  Britisii  forces 
within  ten  or  fifteen  miles  of  the  island,  by  whom  he  was  made  prisoner 
and  put  on  his  parole  of  honor.  He  was  landed  on  the  island  at  day- 
break, with  positive  directions  to  give  me  no  intelligence  whatever.  He 
was  also  instructed  to  take  the  inhabitants  of  the  village,  indlscrimiLately, 
to  a  place  on  the  west  side  of  the  island  where  their  persons  and  property 
should  be  protected  by  a  British  guard,  but  should  they  go  to  the  Fort, 
they  would  be  subject  to  a  general  massacre  by  the  savages,  which  would 
be  inevitable  if  the  garrison  fired  a  g"n.  This  information  I  received 
from  Doctor  Day.  who  was  passing  through  the  village  when  every  person 
was  flying  for  refuge  to  the  enemy.  I  immediately,  on  being  informed 
of  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  placed  ammunition,  etc.,  in  the  Block 
houses;  ordered  every  gun  charged,  and  made  every  preparation  for 
action.  About  9  o'clock  I  could  discover  that  the  enemy  were  in  posses- 
sion of  the  heights  that  commanded  the  Fort,  and  one  piece  of  their  artil-' 
lery  directed  to  the  most  defenceless  part  of  the  garrison.  The  Indians 
•t  this  time  were  to  be  seen  in  great  numbers  in  the  edge  of  the  woods. 


168 


ANNAL8   OF    FORT   MAOKINAO. 


I 


At  half-past  11  o'clock  tho  enemy  scDt  iu  a  flag  of  truce,  demunding  asur* 
render  of  the  Fort  and  island  to  his  Britannic  Majesty's  forces.  This,  Sir, 
was  the  first  infonaatiou  1  had  of  the  dcclarnlion  of  war;  I,  liowever,  had 
anticipated  it,  and  was  as  well  prepared  to  meet  such  an  event  as  I  pos- 
sibly could  have  bcun  with  the  force  under  my  commnnd,  amounting 
to  67  offeclive  men,  including  officers.  Three  Ami  can  gentlemen,  who 
wera  prisoners,  were  perniittcd  to  accompany  the  Hag:  from  tlicm  I  ascer- 
tained the  strength  of  tlic  enemy  to  be  from  nine  Imndrcd  to  one  thousand 
strong,  consisting  of  regular  troops,  Canadians  and  savages;  that  they 
.'aad  two  pieces  of  artillery,  and  were  provided  with  ladders  and  ropes  for 
the  purpose  of  scaling  the  works,  if  necessary.  After  I  bad  obtained  thii 
information,  I  consulted  my  officers,  and  also  the  American  gentlemen 
present,  who  were  very  intelligent  men;  the  result  of  which  was,  that  it 
was  impossible  for  the  garrison  to  hold  out  against  such  a  superior  force. 
In  this  opinion  I  fully  concurred,  from  the  conviction  that  it  was  the  only 
measure  that  could  prevent  a  general  massacre.  The  Fort  and  garrison 
were  accordingly  surrendered. 

The  enclos(  1  papers  exhibit  copies  of  the  correspondence  l)etween  the 
officer  commanding  the  British  forces  and  myself,  and  of  tho  articles  of 
capitulation.  This  subject  involved  questions  of  a  peculiar  nature;  and 
I  hope,  Sir,  that  my  demands  and  protests  will  meet- the  approbation  of 
my  government  I  cannot  allow  this  opportunity  to  escape  without  ex* 
pressing  my  obligation  to  Doctor  Sylvester  Day,  for  tho  service  he  ren- 
dered me  in  conducting  this  correspondence. 

In  consequence  of  this  unfortunate  a£Fair,  I  beg  leave,  Sir,  to  demand 
that  a  Court  of  Inquiry  may  be  ordered  to  investigate  all  the  facts  con- 
nected with  it;  and  I  do  further  requ-^^t,  tb  le  court  may  be  specially 
directed  to  express  their  opinion  on  the  iu«.'  'f   of  the  case. 

Ik 

I  liave  the  honour  to  be.  Sir,  etc.. 


His  Excellency  Qeneral  Hull, 

Chmmanding  the  N.  W.  Armff. 


PORTER  HANKS, 

Lieut&nant  of  AriiUer^ 


•i 


P.  S. — The  following  particulars  relating  to  the  British  force  were  ob 
tiUned  after  the  capitulation,  from  a  source  that  admits  of  no  diubt: 


%     4 


III6TOKICAL    EVENTS.  IQ^ 

Regular  troops.   40  iacluding 4 offlcert. 

Ganadian  mlliUa 260 

Totll 806 

Bftvages, 

Bioux 86 

Winnebagoes 48 

Menoinoncci 39 

Chippewas  and  Ottawaa 572 


715  SavageSi 
800  Whites. 


Total , 


,1021 


It  may  also  bo  remarked,  that  one  hundred  and  fifty  Chippewas  and 
Ottawas  Joined  the  liritish  two  days  after  the  capitulation. 

P.  H. 


iiy 


IIkiohts  abovb  MrcniLiM  \ckinac,  17th  July,  1813. 

CAPITUTATION 

Agreed  upon  between  Captain  Charles  Boberts,  commanding  his  Britannie 

Majesty's  farces,  on  the  one  part,  and  Lieutenant  Porter  Hanks, 

commanding  the  troops  of  the  TTmted  States  of  America, 

on  the  other, 

ARTICLES. 

I.  The  Fort  of  Micbilimackinae  shall  immediately  be  surrendered  to 
the  British  forces.     Granted. 

II.  The  garrison  shall  march  out  with  the  honours  of  war,  lay  down 
their  arms,  and  become  prisoners  of  war.  and  shall  be  sent  to  the  United 
States  of  America  by  bis  Britannic  Majesty,  not  to  serve  in  this  war 
until  regularly  exchanged ;  and  for  the  due  performance  of  this  article 
the  officers  pledge  their  word  and  honour.     Granted. 

III.  All  the  merchant  vessels  in  the  harbour,  with  their  cargoes,  shall 
be  in  the  possession  of  their  respective  owners.     Granted. 

IV.  Private  property  shall  be  held  sacred  so  far  as  in  my  power. 
Granted. 


170 


ANNAI.S   OF   FORT   MACKINAO. 


V.  All  citizens  of  the  United  States  of  Americfi  who  shall  not  take  the 
oatii  of  allcgiaace  to  his  nritaniiic  Majesty,  shiill  depart  wiili  their  prop- 
erty from  this  island  in  one  month  from  the  dale  hereof.     Qrnnled. 

(Siijncd)  CHARLES  ROBEUTS. 

Captain  Commanding  II.  B.  Mnjeaty's  Forces, 

PORTER  lIANIvS, 
Lieutenant  Commnndimj  the  Fureen  of  the 

United  States  at  Fort  Michilimackinae. 


Notes. — Dr.  Silvester  Day,  U.  S.  A.,  was  the  Surgeon  at  the 
Fort.  He  and  hi8  family  resided  at  the  time  on  Astor  street,  in 
a  house  belonging  to  Samuel  Abbott,  which  stood  on  the  site  of 
the  house  built  in  1886  by  Patrick  Donnelly.  Michael  Dousman 
went  to  the  house  and  told  the  inmates  of  the  presence  of  the 
British  on  the,  island.  Dr.  Day  immediately  arose,  and  taking 
his  family  (one  of  whom,  his  son,  is  now  Gen.  Hannibal  Day, 
U.  S.  A.),  went  to  the  Fort  and  warned  the  garrison  of  the 
approach  of  the  foe. 

On  July  15th,  Captain  Charles  Roberts,  of  the  Tenth  Royal 
Veteran  Battalion,  in  command  of  a  detachment  of  his  regiment 
at  St.  Joseph's  Island,  St.  Mary's  River,  received  letters  by  express 
from  Gen.  Brock,  informing  him  that  war  had  been  declared,  and 
ordering  him  to  "  adopt  the  most  punctual  measures." 

Leaving  an  officer  and  six  privates  to  take  care  of  the  build- 
ings. Captain  Roberts,  at  ten  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  16th, 
embarked  his  "few  men  with  about  one  hundred  and  eighty 
Canadian  engagees  half  of  them  without  arms,  about  three  hun- 
dred Indians  and  two  iron  six-pounders,"  in  ten  batteaux,  seventy 
canoes,  and  on  the  N.  W.  Co's  ship  "Caledonia." 

The  boat  arrived  at  the  place  since  then  known  as  "  British 
Landing,"  at  three  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  17th,  and 
through  the  exertions  of  the  Canadians,  one  of  the  guns  was 
taken  to  a  height  commanding  the  Fort. 

The  American  troops  numbered  sixty-three  persons,  including 
five  sick  men  and  one  drummer  boy. 

There  were  nine  vessels  in  the  harbor,  having  on  board  forty- 
seven  men.  After  the  capitulation  two  other  vessels  arrived, 
with  seven  hundred  packs  of  furs. 

The  prisoners  were  sent  to  Detroit,  arriving  there  August  4th, 
thence  to  Fort  Fayette,  where  Pittsburg,   Pennsylvania,  now 


HISTORICAL    KVKNT8. 


171 


•i 


<  - 


stands,  where  a  roll  bIiows  thcin  to  have  been  innstered  on 
the  17th  day  of  November,  1812. 

Lieutenant  Hanks  was  killed  August  16,  while  still  on 
parole,  by  a  shot  tired  from  the  Canadian  side,  wliilo  he  was 
standing  in  the  vestibule  of  the  quarters  occupied  by  Captain 
Samuel  T.  Dyson  and  Lieutenant  William  Whistler,  in  the 
fort  at  Detroit. 

The  citizens  sought  refuge  in  an  old  distillery,  which  was 
situated  under  the  bluff  near  the  old  Indi^^a  burying  ground, 
west  of  the  village.  The  British  sent  a  giard  there  immedi- 
ately after  landing. 

The  three  American  gentlemen  prisoners)  referred  to  by 
Lieutenant  Hanks,  went  from  the  distillery  to  Captain  Rob- 
erts' command.  They  were  Samuel  Abbott,  John  Dousman 
and  Ambrose  R.  Davenport,  all  prominent  citizens  of  the 
village,  and  well  calculated  to  comprehend  the  true  state  of 
affairs. 

Fort  Holmes  was  built  while  the  British  held  possession  of 
the  island,  in  1812  and  1814.  The  inhabitants  of  the  village 
were  all  forced  to  contribute  labor. 

It  was  called  by  the  British  Fort  George,  in  honor  of  the 
British  king ;  afterward  rechristened  by  the  Americans  in 
honor  of  Major  Andrew  Hunter  Holmes,  who  was  killed 
August  4,  1814. 

The  old  ditches  can  be  plainly  seen ;  the  parapet  was  pro- 
tected by  cedar  pickets,  so  planted  as  to  render  scaling  im- 
possible without  a  ladder.  The  covered  ways,  constructed 
to  shelter  the  troops,  have  fallen  in.  In  the  centre  of  the 
enclosure  there  was  a  building  used  as  a  block-house  and 
powder  magazine.  It  was  removed  by  the  Americans,  and 
is  now  used  as  the  government  stable. 

The  platform  that  now  crowns  the  summit,  and  com- 
mands a  magnificent  view  of  the  Straits  and  the  surround- 
ing country,  was  built  in  1886.  As  you  stand  on  this 
platform,   three   hundred   and    thirty-six    feet    above   the 


172 


ANNAL8    07    FORT    MACKINAC, 


level  of  the  surrouiidiii^  water,  facin*^  toward  the  flag-staff 
in  the  Fort,  on  your  riglit  is  l*oint  St.  Ignjice,  four  miles 
distant,  tlie  southern  extremity  of  the  northern  pcninsnla  of 
Michigan  ;  nearly  in  front  of  you  lies  Mackinaw  rity  :  eight 
miles  distant,  on  tlie  northern  j)oiiit  ul"  the  southern  peniu- 


Block  House,  Built  in  1780. 


sula,  a  little  to  the  right,  is  where  old  Fort  Michilimackinac 
stood,  where  the  massacre  of  June  2d,  1763,  took  place ;  a 
little  farther  to  the  left  Cheboygan,  eighteen  miles  distant, 
and  off  to  the  left,  where  the  northern  shore  and  the  water 
seem  to  mingle  and  disappear  together,  is  the  mouth  of  the 
St.  Mary's  River,  thirty-seven  miles  distant. 


HI8TOKIOAL    KVKNT8. 


178 


*  cr 


'     I  > 


NAVAL  BATTLE  ON  LAKE  ERIE. 

1813.  September  10th,  tlie  liostilo  fleets  of  Great  Britain 
and  the  United  States,  on  Lake  Erie,  met  near  the  head  of 
the  Lake,  and  a  sanguinary  battle  ensued.  Tlie  British  fleet 
consisted  of  six  vessels,  carrying  sixty-four  guns,  under  com- 
mand of  the  veteran  Commodore  Barclay,  and  the  fleet  of 
the  United  States  consisted  of  nine  vessels,  carrying  flfty- 
four  guns,  under  command  of  the  young  and  brave  Commo- 
dore Oliver  H.  Perry.  The  result  of  this  important  conflict 
was  made  known  to  the  world  in  the  following  laconic  dis- 
patcli,  written  at  4  p.  m.  of  tliat  day : 

"  Dbar  QBNBRAii:— We  have  met  the  enemy,  and  they  are  oura.  Two 
•hipt,  two  brigs,  one  schooner,  and  one  sloop. 

"  With  esteem,  etc., 

"O.  H.  Pifiuay. 

"Qeneral  William  II.  Uakbibos." 


■V   ■-* 


171 


ANNAL8    OF    FORT    MACKINAO. 


'^•' 


Block  House,  Built  In  1780-81. 


^ 


Srj 


? 


i 


A-NNALS    OF    FOKT    MACKINAC^ 


ITo 


BATTLE  OF  MICIIILIMACKINAO. 

REPORT  OF  COL  GEORGE  GROG II AN. 

U.  S.  S.  Wau  Niagara,  off  Thundkr  bat,  ) 

August  9th,  1814.  S 

Sir— We  left  Fort  Gratiot  (head  of  the  straits  St,  Clair)  on  the  12th 
nit.  and  imagined  that  we  should  arrive  in  a  few  days  at  Malshadash  Bay. 
At  the  end  of  a  week,  however,  the  commodore  from  the  want  of  pilots  ac- 
quainted with  that  unfrequented  part  of  the  lake,  despaired  of  being  able  to 
find  a  passage  through  the  island  into  the  bay,  and  made  for  St.  Joseph's, 
where  he  anchored  on  20th  day  of  July.  After  setting  fire  to  the  Fort  of  St. 
Joseph's,  which  seemed  not  to  have  been  recently  occupied,  a  detachment 
of  infantry  and  artillery,  under  Major  Holmes,  was  ordered  to  Sault  St. 
Mary's,  for  the  purpose  of  breaking  up  the  enemy's  establishment  at  that 
place. 

For  particulars  relative  to  the  execution  of  this  order,  I  beg  leave  to 
refer  you  to  Major  Holmes'  report  herewith  enclosed.  Finding  on  my 
arrival  at  Michilimackinac,  on  the  26th  ult,  that  the  enemy  had  strongly 
fortified  the  height  overlooking  the  old  Fort  of  Mackinac,  I  at  once  de- 
spaired of  being  able  with  my  small  force,  to  carry  the  place  by  storm, 
and  determined  (as  the  only  course  remaining)  on  landing  and  establish- 
ing myself  on  some  favorable  position,  whence  I  could  be  enabled  to 
annoy  the  enemy  by  gradual  and  slow  approaches,  under  cover  of  my 
artillery,  in  which  I  should  have  the  superiority  in  point  of  metal.  I  was 
urged  to  adopt  this  step  by  another  reason,  not  a  little  cogent ;  could  a 
position  be  iaken  and  fortified  on  the  island,  I  was  well  aware  that  it 
would  either  induce  the  enemy  to  attack  me  in  my  stroagholds,  or  force 
his  Indians  and  Canadians  (the  most  efficient,  and  only  disposable  foice) 
off  the  island,  as  they  would  be  very  unwilling  to  remain  in  my  neight^or- 
hood  after  a  permanent  footing  had  been  taken.  On  enquiry,  I  lesjned 
from  individuals  who  had  lived  many  years  on  the  island,  that  a  position 
desirable  as  I  might  wish,  could  be  found  on  the  west  end,  and  therefore 
imr  sdiately  made  arrangements  for  disembarking.  A  landing  was 
effected  on  the  4th  inst. ,  under  cover  of  the  guns  of  the  shipping,  and 
the  line  being  quickly  formed,  had  advanced  to  the  edge  of  the  field 
spoken  of  for  a  camp,  when  intelligence  was  conveyed  to  me,  that  the 


176 


ANNAL8   OF   FORT   MACKINAC. 


lf»S . 


tnemy  was  ahead,  and  a  few  seconds  more  brought  us  a  fire  from  hts 
battery  of  four  pieces,  firing  shot  and  shells.  After  rcuonnoltering  hii 
position,  which  was  well  selected,  his  line  reached  along  the  edge  of  the 
woods,  at  the  further  extremity  of  the  field  and  covered  by  a  temporary 
breast  work  ;  I  determined  on  changing  my  position  (which  was  now  two 
lines,  the  militia  forming  the  front),  by  advancing  Major  Holmes'  battal* 
ion  of  regulars  on  the  right  of  the  militia,  thus  to  outflank  him,  and  by  a 
vigorous  efllort  to  gain  his  rear.  The  movement  was  immediately  ordered, 
but  before  it  could  be  executed,  a  fire  was  opened  by  some  Indians  posted 
in  a  thick  wood  near  our  right,  which  proved  fatal  to  Major  Holmes  and 
severely  wounded  Captain  Desha  (the  next  officer  in  rank).  This  unlucky 
fire,  by  depriving  us  of  the  services  of  our  most  valuable  officers,  threw 
that  part  of  the  line  into  confusion  from  which  the  best  exertions  of  the 
officers  were  not  able  to  recover  it.  Finding  it  impossible  to  gain  the 
enemy's  left,  owing  to  the  impenetrable  thickness  of  the  woods,  a  charge 
was  ordered  to  be  made  by  the  regulars  immediately  against  the  front. 
This  charge  although  made  in  some  confusion,  served  to  drive  the  enemy 
back  into  the  woods,  from  whence  an  annoying  fire  was  kept  up  by  the 
Indians. 

Lieut.  Moi^n  was  ordered  up  with  a  light  piece  to  assist  the  left,  now 
particularly  galled  ;  the  excellent  practice  of  this  brought  the  enemy  to 
fire  at  a  longer  distance.  Discovering  that  this  disposition  from  whence 
the  enemy  had  just  been  driven  (and  which  had  been  represented  to  me 
\s  so  high  aad  commanding),  was  by  no  means  tenable,  from  being  inter- 
spersert  with  thickets,  and  intersected  in  every  way  by  ravines,  I  deter- 
mined no  longer  to  expose  my  force  to  the  fire  of  an  enemy  deriving 
every  Advantage  which  could  be  obtained  from  numbers  and  a  knowledge 
of  the  poeitiou.  and  therefore  ordered  an  immediate  retreat  towards  the 
shipping.  This  affair,  which  cost  us  many  valuable  lives,  leaves  us  to 
lament  the  fall  of  that  gallant  officer,  Major  Holmes,  whose  character  is 
so  well  kjaown  to  the  war  department.  Captain  Van  Home,  of  the  19th 
Infantry  and  Lieut.  Jackso':  of  the  34th  Infantry,  both  brave  intrepid 
young  men  fell  mortally  wounded  at  the  head  of  their  respective  com- 
mands. 

The  conduct  of  all  my  officers  on  this  occasion  merits  my  approbation. 
Captain  Desha,  of  the  24th  Infantry,  although  wounded,  continued 
with  his  command  until  forced  to  retire  from  faintness  through  loss  of 
blood.    Captains  Saunders,  Hawkins  and  Sturges,  with  every  subalters 


HISTORICAL    EVBNTS. 


177 


of  that  batfai.on,  acted  in  the  most  exemplary  manner.  Ensign  Bryan, 
2n(l  Itifle  Regimetit,  acting  Adjutant  to  the  battalion,  actively  forwarded 
the  wishes  of  the  commanding  officer.  Lieuts.  Hickman,  28th  Infantry, 
and  Hyde  of  the  JJ.  S.  Marines,  who  commanded  the  reserve,  claim  my 
particular  thanks  for  their  activity  in  keeping  that  command  in  readiness 
to  meet  any  exigency.  I  have  before  mentioned  Lieut.  Morgan's  activity; 
his  two  assisitiuLj,  Lieut.  Pickett  and  Mr.  Peters,  conductor  of  artillery, 
also  merit  the  name  of  gord  officers. 

The  militia  were  wanting  in  no  part  of  their  duty,  Colonel  Cotgreave, 
his  officers  and  soldiers,  deserve  the  warmest  approbation,  My  acting 
assistant  Adjutant  General  Captain  N.  H.  Moore,  28lh  Infantry,  with 
volunteer  Adjutant  McComb,  were  prompt  in  delivering  my  orders. 

Captain  Gratiot  of  the  engineers,  who  voluntered  his  services  as  Adju- 
tant on  the  occasion,  gave  me  valuable  assistance.  On  the  morning  of  the 
6th,  I  s^nt  aflag  to  the  enemy,  to  enquire  into  the  state  of  the  wounded 
(two  in  number),  who  were  left  on  the  field,  and  to  request  permission  to 
bring  away  the  body  of  Major  Holmes,  which  was  also  left,  owing  to  the 
unpardonable  neglect  of  the  soldiers  in  whose  bands  it  was  placerl.  I 
am  happy  in  assuring  you.  that  the  body  of  Major  Holmes  is  secured, 
and  will  be  biried  at  Detroit  with  becoming  honors.  I  shall  discharge 
the  inilitia  to-morrow,  and  will  send  them  down,  together  with  two  regu- 
lar companies  to  Detroit. 

With  the  remaining  three  companies  I  shall  attempt  to  destroy  the 
enemy's  establishment  in  the  head  of  Naw-taw-wa-aa-ga  River,  and  if  it 
be  thought  proper,  erect  a  post  at  the  mouth  of  that  river. 

Very  respectfully,  I  have  the  honor  to  remain,  sir,  your  obedipat 
(terrant. 

G.  CROGHAN, 

Lieut.-Col.  Xnd  RijUmen. 
Th  Hon.  J.  Armstiiong, 

S^cretafy  of  War. 


lid 


178 


ANNALS    OF   FUKT   MACKINAO. 


REPORT  OF  KILLED,  WOUNDED  AND  MISSING,  ON 

AUGUST  4th,  1814. 

On  boaud  the  U.  8.  Sloop  of  War  Niagara,  ) 
11th  August.  1814.  1 

Artillery— wounded,  three  privates. 

lufiintry — 17th  Regiment;  killed,  five  privates;  wounded,  two  sergeants, 
two  corporals,  fifteen  privates.  Two  privates  since  dead.  Two  privates 
missing. 

19th  Regiment—wounded,  one  captain,  nine  privates.  Captain  Isaac 
Van  Home,  Jr.,  since  dead— one  private  since  dead. 

24th  Regiment — killed,  five  privates;  wounded,  one  captain,  one  lieu- 
tenant, three  sergeants,  one  corporal,  one  musician,  five  privates.  Cap- 
tain Robert  Desha  severely;  Lieut.  Hczekiah  Jackson  since  dead — one 
sergeant  since  dead. 

82nd  Regiment — killed,  one  major.     Major  Andrew  Kunter  Holmes. 

United  States  Marines— wounded,  one  sergeant. 

Ohio  Militia — killed,  two  privates;  wounded,  six  privates — one  private 
•ince  dead  of  his  wounds. 

Grand  total— one  major  and  twelve  privates  killed;  two  captains,  one 
lieutenant,  six  sergeants,  three  corporals,  one  musician  and  thirty-eight 
privates  wounded.     Two  privates  missing. 

The  above  return  exhibits  a  true  statement  of  ths  killed  wounded  and 
missing  in  the  affair  of  the  4th  instant. 

N.  H.  MOORE, 

Captain  iSth  Infantry, 
.  Aodng  Aamtant  Adjutant- General. 


ON 


AGARA, 


sergeants, 
3  privates 

ain  Isaac 

one  lieu- 
es.  Cap- 
ead — one 

[olmes. 

e  private 

ains,  one 
irty-eight 

ided  and 


-K 


General, 


?** 


180 


ANNALS  OF  FORT  MACKINAC. 


REPORT  OF  CAPTAIN  SINCLAIR. 

United  States  Sloop  of  War  Niagara, 
Off  Thunder  Bay,  August  9th,  1814. 

Sir — I  arrived  off  Michillmacklnac  on  tho  26th  July;  but.owing  to  a 
tedious  spell  of  bad  weather,  which  prevented  our  reconnoitering,  or 
being  able  to  procure  a  prisoner  who  could  give  us  information  of  the 
enemy's  Indian  force,  which,  from  several  little  skirmishes  we  had  on  an 
adjacent  islam),  appeared  to  be  very  great,  we  did  not  attempt  a  landing 
until  the  4th  inst.,  and  it  was  then  made  more  witli  a  view  to  ascertain 
positively  the  enemy's  strength,  than  with  any  possible  hope  oJ:  success; 
knowing,  at  the  same  time,  that  1  could  effectually  cover  their  landing 
and  retreat  to  the  ships,  from  the  position  I  had  taken  within  800  yards 
of  the  beach.  Col.  Croghan  would  never  have  landed,  even  with  this 
protection,  being  positive,  as  he  was,  that  the  Indian  force  alone  on  the 
island,  with  the  advantages  they  had,  were  superior  to  him,  could  he 
have  justified  himself  to  his  government,  without  having  stronger  proof 
than  appearances,  that  he  could  not  effect  the  object  in  view.  Mackinac 
is,  by  nature,  a  perfect  Gibraltar,  being  a  high  inaccessible  rock  on  every 
side,  except  the  west,  from  which  to  the  bights,  you  have  near  two  miles 
to  pass  through  a  wood,  so  thick  that  our  irr  a  were  shot  in  every  direc- 
tion, and  within  a  few  yards  of  them,  without  being  able  to  see  the 
Indians  who  did  it;  and  a  height  was  scarcely  gained  before  there  was 
another  within  50  or  100  yards  commanding  it,  where  breastworks  were 
erected  and  cannon  opened  on  them.  Several  of  those  wrre  charged  and 
the  enemy  driven  from  them;  but  it  was  soon  found  the  further  our 
troops  advanced  the  stronger  the  enemy  became,  and  the  weaker  and 
more  bewildered  our  forces  were;  several  of  the  commanding  officers 
were  picked  out  and  killed  or  wounded  by  the  savages,  without  seeing 
any  of  them.  The  men  were  getting  lost  and  falling  into  confusion, 
natural  under  such  circumstances,  which  demanded  an  immediate  retreat, 
or  a  total  defeat  and  general  massacre  must  have  ensued.  This  was  con- 
ducted in  .  masterly  manner  by  Col.  Croghan,  who  had  lost  the  aid  of 
that  valuable  and  ever  to  be  lamented  officer,  Major  Holmes,  who,  with 
Captain  VanHorn,  was  killed  by  the  Indians. 

The  enemy  were  driven  from  many  of  their  strongholds;  but  such  waf 


*, 


HISTORICAL   EVENTS. 


181 


ich  wai 


the  impenetrable  thickness  of  the  woods,  that  no  advantage  gained  could 
be  profited  by.  Our  attack  would  have  been  made  immediately  under 
the  lower  fort,  that  the  enemy  might  not  have  been  able  to  use  his  Indian 
force  to  such  advantage  as  in  the  woods,  having  discovered  by  drawing  a 
fire  from  him  in  several  instbc'^^s,  tliat  I  had  greatly  the  superiority  of 
metal  uf  him;  but  its  site  being  about  120  feet  above  the  water,  I  could 
not,  when  near  enough  to  do  him  au  injury,  elevate  sufficiently  to  batter 
t.  Above  this,  nearly  as  high  again,  he  has  another  strong  fort,  com- 
manding every  point  on  the  island,  and  almost  perpendicular  on  all  sides. 
Col.  Croghan  not  deeining  it  prudent  to  make  a  second  attempt  upon  this 
place,  and  having  ascertained  to  a  certainty  that  the  only  naval  force  the 
enemy  have  upon  the  lakes  consists  of  one  scliooner  of  four  guns,  I  have 
determined  to  despatch  the  "  Lawrence  "  and  "  Caledonia  "  to  Lnkc  Erie 
immediately,  believing  their  services  in  transporting  our  armies  there  will 
be  wanting;  and  it  being  important  that  the  sick  and  wounded,  amount- 
ing to  about  100,  and  that  part  of  the  'detachment  not  necessary  to  further 
our  future  operations  here,  should  reach  Detroit  without  delay.  By  an 
intelligent  prisoner,  captured  in  the  "Mink,"  I  ascertained  this,  and  that 
the  mechanics  and  others  sent  across  from  York  during  the  winter  were 
for  the  purpose  of  building  a  flotilla  to  transport  reinforcements  and  sup- 
plies to  Mackinac.  An  attempt  was  made  to  transport  them  by  the  way  of 
Matchtvdash,  but  it  was  found  impracticable,  from  all  the  portages  being 
a  morass  that  they  then  resorted  to  a  small  river  called  Nautawasaga, 
situated  to  the  south  of  Matchadash,  from  which  there  is  a  portage  of  three 
leagues  over  a  good  road  to  Lake  Simcoe.  This  place  was  never  known 
until  pointed  out  to  them  last  summer  by  an  Indian.  This  river  is  very 
narrow,  and  has  six  or  eight  feet  water  in  it  about  three  miles  up,  and  is 
then  a  muddy,  rapid  shallow  for  45  miles  up  to  the  portage,  where  their 
armada  was  built,  and  their  storehouses  are  now  situated.  The  naviga- 
tion is  dangerous  and  difficult,  and  so  obscured  by  rocks  and  bushes  that 
no  stranger  could  ever  find  it.  I  have,  however,  availed  myself  of  the 
means  of  discovering  it;  I  shall  also  blockade  the  mouth  of  French  River 
until  the  fall;  and  those  being  the  only  two  channels  of  communication 
by  which  Mackinac  can  possibly  be  supplied,  and  their  provisions  at  this 
time  being  extremely  short,  I  think  they  will  be  starved  into  a  surrender. 
This  will  also  cut  off  all  supplies  to  the  Northwest  Company,  who  are  now 
nearly  starving,  and  their  furs  on  hand  can  only  find  transportation  by 
the  way  of  Hudson  Bay.    At  this  place  I  calculate  on  falling  in  with 


182 


ANNAL8    OF    FOKT    MACKINAC. 


their  schoouer,  which,  it  is  said,  has  gone  thert  for  a  load  of  provisions, 

and  a  message  sent  to  her  not  to  venture  up  while  we  tre  on  the  Lake. 

Very  respectfully,  I  have  the  honor  to  remain,  Sir, 

Your  obcdieut  servant, 

ARTHUR  SINCLAIR 
To  Hon.  Wm.  Jones, 

Secretary  of  tlie  Navy. 

N0TB8. — Col.  Croghan  landed  with  his  troops  at  wliat  is 
now  called  '  Britisli  Landing,'  so  named  from  the  fact  that 
the  British  landed  there  on  the  night  of  the  16th  and  1 7th 
of  July,  1812,  when  they  snccessfully  surprised  Fort  Mack- 
inac 

On  entering  the  gate  on  the  road  leading  to  British  Land- 
ing, after  passing  through  the  narrow  belt  of  timber,  you 
come  to  a  slight  ridge  which  crosses  the  road,  passing  diagon- 
ally through  an  orchard,  on  the  left. 

On  the  south  side  of  this  ridge  the  British  troops  were 
concealed,  having  four  field  pieces ;  the  line  was  protected  by 
a  hastily  constructed  ahattis^  and  the  left  by  an  entrenchment, 
the  remains  of  which  can  be  seen  in  the  orchard  some  250 
yards  to  the  left  of,  and  nearly  parallel  to,  the  road. 

The  British  forces  were  ui^er  the  command  of  Lieut.-CoL 
Eobert  McDouall,  Glengarry  Light  Infantry  Fencibles,  then 
in  command  at  Fort  Mackinac. 

Major  Holmes'  body  was  put  on  board  a  schooner  and  sent 
to  Detroit,  where  it  was  burled  in  the  old  cemetery  on  the 
corner  of  Lamed  street  and  Woodward  avenue,  on  land 
belonging  to  **The  First  Protestant  Society."  In  1834  when 
excavating  for  the  building  of  "  The  First  Protestant  Church  " 
the  remains  of  Major  Holmes  were  found  with  six  cannon 
balls  in  the  coffin.  The  balls  were  placed  in  the  coffin  for 
the  purpose  of  sinking  the  body  if  in  danger  of  being  cap- 
tured by  the  British  while  on  its  way  to  Detroit.  The 
remains  were  placed  in  a  box  and  buried  in  the  Protestant 
cemetery  near  Gratiot,  Beaubien  and  Antoine  streets.  ' 


250 


V? 


HISTORICAL    EVENTS. 


183 


1815.  By  tlio  treaty  of  peace  and  amity  between  Great 
Britain  and  the  United  States,  concluded  at  Ghent,  Bulgiinn, 
Decciri!  ^r  24th,  1814,  and  signed  by  Lord  Gambier,  Henry 
Gonlbourn  and  William  Adams,  on  the  part  of  Great 
Britain,  and  by  John  Quincy  Adams,  James  A.  Bayard^ 
Henry  Clay,  Jonathan  Russell  and  Albert  Gallatin,  on  the 
part  of  the  United  States  (ratifications  exchanged  February 
17th,  and  proclaimed  February  18th,  1815),  the  post  of 
Michilimackinac  was  again  restored  to  the  United  States. 

On  March  28th,  Lieut.-General  Sir  Gordon  Drummond 
Bent  a  despatch  from  York  (now  Toronto),  Canada,  to  Lieut.- 
Colonel  Robert  McDouall,  of  the  Glengarry  Light  Infantry 
Fencibles,  commanding  Fort  Mackinac  and  Dependencies, 
announcing  the  restoration  of  peace  between  Great  Britain 
and  the  United  States.  This  despatch  reached  Mackinac 
May  let,  and  of  it  Col.  McDouall  in  a  letter  of  May  6th,  to 
Colonel  Anthony  Butler,  2d  Rifles,  commanding  "  Michigan 
Territory  and  District  of  Upper  Canada,"  said,  "this  was  the 
first  oflicial  communication  I  had  received  from  ray  Govern- 
ment, announcing  the  termination  of  hostilities  and  the  res- 
toration of  the  blessings  of  peace." 

Upon  the  receipt  of  the  above  despatch.  Col.  McDouall 
sent  a  detachment  of  troops  to  Drummond's  Island  to  pre- 
pare for  the  removal  thither,  of  the  Mackinac  Garrison. 

The  efforts  made  at  all  times  by  Col.  McDouall  to  protect 
American  citizens  and  their  property  from  the  Indians, 
deserve  mention. 

Oi!  the  same  day  and  by  the  same  conveyance  that  brought 
General  Drummond's  despatch.  Col.  McDouall  received  a 
letter  from  Col.  Butler,  dated  Detroit,  April  16th,  in  refer- 
ence to  the  reoccupation  of  Fort  Mackinac  by  U.  S.  troops. 
Col.  McDouall's  reply,  dated  May  5th,  was  conveyed  to  Col. 
Butler  by  Lieut.  Worley,  of  the  Royal  Navy. 

The  details  connected  with  the  restoration  of  Fort  Macki- 


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nac  to  the  United  States,  and  of  Fort  Maiden,  Amhcrstbnrg 
and  Isle  aiix  Bois  Blanc  to  Great  Britain,  were  arranged 
between  Ccl  Anthony  Butler,  on  the  part  of  the  United 
States,  and  Lieut.  Colonel  W,.  W.  James,  of  the  British 
Infantry,  on  the  part  of  Great  Britain. 

The  United  States  troops  were  withdrawn  from  Fort  Mai- 
den, Amherstburg  and  Isle  aux  Bois  Blanc,  at  noon  on  the 
first  day  of  July. 

British  troops,  Col.  McDouall  in  command,  occupied  Fort 
Mackinac  until  noon  July  18  th,  when  they  were  relieved  by 
United  States  troops,  consisting  of  two  companies  of  Rifle- 
men (Captains  Willoughby  Morgan  and  Joseph  Kean),  and 
half  a  company  (Captain  Benjamin  K.  Pierce's),  of  artillery, 
under  command  of  Colonel  Anthony  Butler. 

These  troops  with  supplies  for  six  months,  left  Detroit 
July  3d,  in  four  vessels  (commanded  by  Lieut.  Samuel 
Woodliouse,  U.  S.  N).,  viz.:  the  U.  S.  sloop  of  war  Niagara, 
the  U.  S.  schooner  Porcupine,  and  two  private  vessels  char- 
tered for  the  trip.  William  Gamble,  Collector  of  Customs 
for  Mackinac,  accompanied  the  troops. 

The  British  withdrew  to  Drummond's  Island  in  the  St. 
Mary^s  River,  where  they  established  a  post. 

Colonel  Butler  immediately  returned  to  Detroit,  leavino; 
Captain  Willoughby  Morgan  in  command  at  Fori  Mackinac. 

Ca))tain  Morgan  changed  the  name  of  Fort  George  to  Fort 
Holmes,  and  for  a  short  time  garrisoned  it  with  a  small 
detachment.  He  also  appointed  Michael  Dousman,  a  resi- 
dent citizen,  Military  Agent  for  Mackinac. 

Major  Talbot  Chambers,  of  the  Riflemen,  arrived  at  Fort 
Mackinac,  August  31st,  and  took  command,  relieving  Cap- 
tain Morgan,  who  was  ordered  to  Detroit. 

1816.  Two  companies  of  Rifles  left  Fort  Mackinac, 
nnder  the  command  of  Colonel  John  Miller,  and  established 
Fort  Howard,  at  Green  Bay,  Wis. 


"H 


mSTOKICAL    EVENTS. 


185 


V, 


>      ^ 


«l 


181  j.  First  steamboat  at  Makinac,  the  ""Walk-in-the- 
Water." 

1821.  June  21st.  In  the  west  end  of  the  basement  of 
the  cottage  on  tlie  corner  of  Astor  and  Fort  Streets  (then 
used  as  the  retail  store  of  the  American  Fur  Co.),  occurred 
.  an  accident  the  result  of  which  is  known  to  the  medical 
fraternity  throughout  the  world.  We  refer  to  tlie  acci- 
dental shooting,  in  the  left  side,  of  Alexis  St.  Martin,  a 
Canadian,  eighteen  years  of  age,  in  the  employ  of  the 
American  Fur  Company.  . 

St.  Martin  was  not  more  than  a  yard  from  the  muzzle  of 
the  gun,  which  was  loaded  with  powder  and  duck-shot.  To 
be  brief,  a  hole  was  made  into  the  stomach,  which  healed 
but  never  closed.  Through  this  aperture,  the  action  of  the 
stomach,  on  various  kinds  of  food,  was  observed.  These 
experiments,  extending  through  a  series  of  years,  gave 
much  valuable  information.  Dr.  Wm.  Beaumont,  at  that 
time  the  Post-Surgeon,  attended  the  wounded  man  and 
afterward  made  the  experiments. 

1823.  llev.  William  Montague  Ferry,  by  direction  of  the 
United  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  established  a  mission 
for  the  Indians  of  t'-  x'^'orthwest  at  Mackinac  Island,  this 
location  being  chosen  because  it  was  the  center  of  the  fur 
trade  in  the  Northwest.  -    . 

Mr.  Ferry  arrived  at  Mackinac  October  19th,  and  opened 
school  November  3d,  with  twelve  Indian  children.  At  one 
time  there  were  twenty-four  assistants,  and  one  hundred  and 
eighty  scholars.  The  children  from  the  village  attended  as 
day  scholars,  and  those  from  the  several  tribes  as  boarders. 

They  were  trained  in  habits  of  industry,  and  taught  trades, 
and  how  to  cultivate  the  soil,  besides  receiving  a  common 
school  education.  The  school  was  first  held  in  the  old  Court 
^ouse.  In  1825,  the  building  now  known  as  the  "  Mission 
House,"  was  erected  for  missionary  and   school   purposes. 


186 


ANNALS   OF   FORT   MACKINAC. 


Tliomas  White  Ferry,  ex  U.  S.  Senator,  was  bom  in  the 
Mif  sion  House,  June  1,  1827. 

The  building  known  as  the  "  Mission  Church,"  was  erected 
in  1830.     It  was  consecrated  March  4th,  1831. 

Mr.  Ferry  was  relieved  August  6th,  1834.  He  then  settled 
at  Grand  Haven,  Mich.,  where  he  lived  for  thirty-three 
years,  highly  esteemed  and  eminently  useful.  He  died  De- 
cember 30th,  1867.     In  1837  the  Mission  was  discontinued. 

1839,  October  14:th.     Fort  Mackinac  evacuated. 

1840,  May  18th.  Fort  Mackinac  reoccupied  by  Co.  H, 
4th  Artillery, 

1856,  October  12th.     Fort  Mackinac  evacuated. 

1857,  May  25th.  Fort  Mackinac  reoccupied  by  Co.  E,  2nd 
Artillery. 

August  2d.     Fort  Mackinac  evacuated. 

1858,  June  6tli.  Fort  Mackinac  reoccupied  by  Co.  G, 
2nd  Artillery. 

1861,  April  28.     Fort  Mackinac  evacuated. 

1862.  May  10th,  the  steamer  "Illinois"  arrived  at 
Mackinac  from  Detroit,  having  on  board  Co.  A,  Stanton 
Guards,  Michigan  Volunteers,  Capt.  Grover  S.  Wormer,  of 
Detroit,  commanding  (afterwards,  Lieut. -Col.  and  Col.  8th 
Michigan  Cavalry,  and  Brevet  Brigadier-General  United 
States  Yolunteers,)  with  First  Lieutenant  Elias  F.  Sutton, 
Second  Lieutenant  Louis  Hartmeyer,  Chaplain  James  Knox, 
and  Dr.  John  Gregg,  having  in  charge  the  following  dis- 
tinguished gentlemen  from  Tennessee,  who  were  State  prison- 
ers of  war :  Gen.  William  G.  Harding,  Gen.  Washington  Bar- 
rows, and  Judge  Joseph  C.  Guild. 

For  six  days  after  their  arrival,  the  prisoners  were  allowed 
to  remain  at  the  Mission  Hotel,  under  a  guard,  while  quar- 
ters were  being  prepared  in  the  Fort.  The  three  sets  of 
officers'  quarters  in  the  wooden  building  between  the  stone 
quarters  and  the  guard  house,  were  assigned  to  them. 

Gen.  Harding  occupied  the  set  in  the  west  end,  or  nearest 
the  stone  quarters,  Gen.  Barrows,  the  middle  set,  and  Judge 
Guild,  the  set  in  the  east  end.  The  rooms  were  comfort- 
ably furnished  by  the  prisoners,  who  remained  here  until 
September  10th,  1862,  when  the  Fort  was  again  evacuated, 


':-  a; 


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HISTORICAL    EVENTS. 


187 


V,     -% 


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^-i- 


the  prisoners  taken  to  Detroit,  and  thence  to  Johnson's 
island.  Lake  Erie. 

1866.  August  3d.  Fort  Mackinac  re-occupied  by  the  4th 
Independent  Company,  of  the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

AuiJTUst  2oth.     Fort  Mackinac  evacuated. 

1S07.  August  22d.  Fort  Mackinac  re-occupied  by  Co.  B, 
43d  United  States  Infantry. 

1877.  Fathor  Marquette's  grave  discovered  at  St.  Ignace, 
by  Very  Reverend  Edward  Jacker. 

1879.  Saturday,  May  31.  Co.  C,  10th  U.  S.  Infantry, 
(Lieuts.  Kelton  and  Plummer)  arrived  at  Fort  Mackinac 
from  Fort  McKavett,  Texas. 

18S2.  The  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  on  Fort  Street, 
built  through  the  efforts  and  under  the  direction  of  Rev. 
Moses  C.  Stanley. 

On  the  18th  day  of  Septembe."  the  County  seat  was  trans- 
ferred from  Mackinac  Island  to  St.  Ignace. 

The  first  building  erected  on  "  Hubbard's  Annex." 

1883.  A  cable  was  laid  by  the  Western  Union  Telegraph 
Co.  to  Mackinac  Island  from  St.  Ignace.  (The  latter  place 
is  connected  by  cable  with  Mackinaw  City.)  The  line  was 
opened  July  13th. 

1885.  Three  cottages,  the  first  erected  on  building  lots 
in  the  Mackinac  National  Park,  were  built  by  Mrs.  Phoebe 
B.  Gehr,  Mrs.  Charlotte  R.  Warren,  of  Chicago,  and  Col. 
John  Atkinson,  of  Detroit. 

The^r*^  lease  of  a  building  lot  in  the  Park  was  to  Mrs, 
Gehr,  the  lease  bearing  date  of  April  1st,  1885. 

1887.  The  " Grand  Hotel"  built.  It  was  first  opened  to 
the  public  on  the  15tli  day  of  July. 

That  eminent  philologist  and  world-renowned  student  of 
the  Indian  languages,  the  Very  Reverend  Edward  Jacker, 


/»'■  K^ 


mammmmmmmBamii 


18S 


ANNAL8    OF    FORT   MACKINAC. 


died  at  Marquette,  Mich.,  on  the  first  day  of  September.  He 
was  born  at  Ellwangen,  in  Wiirtemberg,  Germany,  on 
September  2,  1827. 

1888.     April  10th.     First  arrival  in  Mackinac  waters  of 
the  new  transfer  steamer  "  St.  Ignace." 


'^'■'ir      iTi" 


ANNALS   OF  FOKT   MACKINAO. 


180 


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Summer  Residences. 


The  following  persons  have  cottages  on 

D.  B.  Stewart, 

Charley  H.  Bradley, 

William  A.  Amberg, 

Chafles  L.  Ames, 

John  H.  Batten, 

Dr.  Truman  W.  Brophy, 

Edward  O.  Brown, 

George  W.  Cass, 

Robert  Clark, 

John  Cudahy, 

Michael  Cudahy, 

Mrs.  Phebe  B.  Gehr, 

Alexander  D.  Hannah, 

Franklin  S.  Hanson,  (3) 

Noah  P.  Harrison, 

David  Hogg, 

Mrs.  Gurdon  8.  Hubbard,  (2) 

Dr.  L.  D.  McArthur, 
Walter  C.  Newberry, 
Edward  H.  Pitkin, 
Gen.  George  W.Smith, 
Mrs.  James  Walsh, 
Major  Daniel  W.  Whittle. 
Hon.  Hugh  McCurdy, 
Miss  Annie  E.  Morrison, 
Charles  C.  Bowen, 
Cornelius  Corbett, 
Rt.  Jiev.  Thos.  P.  Davie?, 
Col.  Henry  M.  Duffleld, 
William  H.  Dunning, 


Mackinac  Island: 


Ancljor.  Ill, 

Bay  City,  Midi. 

Chicago,  III. 

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Delaware,  Ohio. 

Detroit,  Mich. 
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,190 


ANNAL8   OF    FOJiT   MACKINAO. 


Mrs.  Jacob  S.  Farrand, 

Edward  A.  Gott, 

Hon.  8.  B.  Grummond,  (2) 

Hansom  Hawley, 

H.  L.  Jenness, 

Mrs.  Jane  Owen, 

Mrs.  Alanson  Sheley, 

Gilbert  E.  Burslcy, 

Henry  R.  Freeman, 

Montgomery  Hamilton, 

Robert  S.  Taylor, 

Delos  A.  Blodgett, 

VVilliam  F.  Bulkley, 

Col.  E.  Croftou  Fox, 

William  D.  Gilbert, 

William  O.  Hughart, 

Lyman  D.  Norris, 

Thomas  J .  O  Brien, 

William  J.  Stuart, 

Edwin  F.  Sweet, 

T.  Stewart  White, 

Uharles  W.  Caskey, 

Elstner  Fisher. 

Mrs.  Amanda  Belden, 

Frank  M.  Clark,  (3) 

M.  H.  Lane, 

Frank  B.  Lay, 

William  H.  McCourtio, 

Theodore  P.  Sheldon, 

Mrs.  H.  G.  Wells, 

Ezra  P.  Barnard, 

Charles  E.*  Anthony,  (2) 

Major  CliflEord  M.  Anthony, 

Rev.  Meade  C.  Willi&ms, 

Hon.  John  Edget, 

M^or  George  C.  Harrington, 

T.  F.  Spangler, 


Detroit, 

Mich. 

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Kalamazoo, 

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Peoria,  HI. 

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Baginaw, 

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Wat8fcka,Ill. 

Zanesville,  Ohio. 

Lachance  &  Son 


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Grand  Hotel  Livery  Stables 

MACKINAC   ISLAND. 


Our  Outfits  l^ead  tt^e  proeessiop,  Botl^  op 

l^apd  apd  U/ater. 

WE  HAVE  THE  VEHICLE  YOU  WANT.' 

Jaunting  Cars  from  Ireland, 

•    Gondolas  from  Venice, 

Camels  from  Egypt, 

Elephants  from  Asia, 
Sedan  Chairs, 

Rolling  Chairs, 

Street  Cars, 

Balloons, 
Etc.,  Etc.,  Etc. 


SPECIAL  FACILITIES  FOR  BOARDING  HORSES  AND  CARRIACES. 

From  High  Noon  July  1st,  (ill  High  Midnight  Sept.  30th. 

PLEASE  CALL  DURING  OFFICE  HOURS. 


■*■«« 


\ 


TOURISTS! 

A. VOID   ^HK  Me^a^  Aivr>  I^U^'T 

BY  TRAVELING  ON  THE  FLOATING  PALACES  OF 

5i?e  Detroit  ai^d  Qleuelapd 
Steam  |^au.  Qd. 

Two  New  Steamers,  costing  $300,000.00  each,  have  just  been  buirt  for  the 

Mackinac  Division. 

4-TRIPS  PER  WEEK-4 


BETWEEN 


MACKINAC,      ALPENA, 

DETROIT,  TOLEDO, 

AND  CLEVELAND 


LEAVE  MACKINAC MONDAY  AND  WEDNESDAY 8.30  A.  M. 

"  THURSDAY  AND  SATURDAY 7.30  P.M. 


For  All  Points  East  and   South,  Save  Money  by  Traveling  Via 

The  Lake  Route. 

5^"  For  Pamphlets,  Time  Cards  and  other  information  apply  to 


GEO.  T.  ARNOLD,  agent. 

MACKINAC,  MICH. 


OR        A.  A.  SCHANTZ,  gen.  pass,  agent. 

DETROIT,  MICH. 


MT^^r^   5l?e  Detroit  ai^d  gev/elapd  Steam  f/av/.  (;o. 


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